Why not more 'bird brains' on educational faculties?
An interesting program on PBS aired a few nights ago entitled "Bird Brains." It showed that birds, especially parrots and crows, use reasoning and logic to solve difficult problems.
These skills are sadly lacking in a majority of recent college graduates. A recent poll of American employers conducted by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni revealed that three-quarters of employers found recent graduates lacked the skills necessary to be hired for their positions, including the ability to solve problems.
Perhaps high school and college faculties should be replaced by the birds, who obviously have higher IQs.
Donald Engels
Fayetteville
Why not begin year with plan for more reading?
As a new year begins, I urge people to read more books and see fewer movies and less TV. Nathaniel Greene wrote years ago that books "inspire the mind to action and direct the passions."
We need more informed citizens so that proper decisions are made at the personal, family, business, community and state levels.
Do yourself and your community a favor: Read a book a month all year and every year.
Charles Janzen
Bella Vista
Regarding firearms,
what are we so afraid of?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Depart of Veterans Affairs [and] icasualties.org, regarding deaths in the United States from firearm-related incidents compared with total U.S. war deaths, there were more deaths from 1968 to 2015 -- 1.53 million -- from firearms than all the U.S wars from 1775 to 2017, 1.2 million.
Are we at war with ourselves and losing?
Keep in mind that the military deaths were in war zones and battlefields. Are our streets, churches, concerts and homes turning into battlefields?
What is the reason for concealed carry licenses? Does that mean you have a license to kill? Are we really so afraid of each other that we need to carry around a weapon everywhere? What other purpose do guns serve?
Patsy Ferritor
Fayetteville
Commentary on 01/06/2018