On education for all
Many of us are distressed about our president's recent use of expletives to refer to struggling countries. We can show our support for the children of these marginalized countries by increasing opportunities for every child, everywhere, to receive a quality education.
Right now The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is launching a new plan to give millions more kids access to quality education. But that plan requires resources to make it a reality. Unfortunately, earlier this year the White House tried to cut funding for global education. But our leaders in Congress are pushing back.
This issue has bipartisan support, and the GPE and global education in general remain very high priorities for Sen. John Boozman, who continues to engage with the committee in support of them. I hope we can count on Sen. Tom Cotton and Congressman Steve Womack to join Senator Boozman to ensure the U.S. shows leadership with the Global Partnership for Education at the replenishment conference on Feb. 2.
With our bold pledge, we can join with other nations to give children the education that is their fundamental right.
JAN M. VANSCHUYVER
Fayetteville
Money for leaving us
This letter is about Arkansas athletics. We just let our football coach go and paid him between $6 million and $11 million, depending on what you read. In 2007, we gave $3.5 million to Houston Nutt. When will this stop?
We have a basketball coach--how many millions will he get to leave? He is no coach.
SANDY ELLIOTT
Hot Springs
One young immigrant
In 1972 Leon Wildes, an immigration attorney, was involved in helping a young musician obtain a green card which would allow him to stay in America. Asked why he wanted to stay, the singer/guitarist said, "I like to be here because this is where the music came from. This is what influenced my whole life and got me where I am today."
Eventually his green card application was approved, even though the Nixon administration wanted him out of the country because of his anti-war beliefs and influence over young voters. The key to Wildes' success was a government policy known as "prosecutorial discretion," a premise that evolved into DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
In 1975, Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody wrote "The Immigrant," recorded that same year by Juilliard-educated Sedaka. Listening to this song today is a real treat, both moving and enlightening with its lyrics so relevant to current events: "There was a time when strangers were welcome here. Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear ...''
Dig out that dusty old cassette or check YouTube for a listen. When you do, bear in mind that the song was dedicated to that immigrant musician, John Lennon.
JOHN JARBOE
North Little Rock
Indefatigable Deering
The talented and prolific artist John Deering continues to amaze and entertain me with his spot-on editorial cartoons, the endearing Zack Hill, his public sculptures, and his fine art.
I cannot imagine how he is able to turn out such quality work so regularly, but I have been most delighted by two recent cartoons: the poignant Dreamer, imagining a functional Congress, and 100 percent Cotton, featuring our junior senator wearing his shrunken status as a truth-teller.
One can guess where John gets his inspiration, but where he finds the time to produce so many excellent works for us to enjoy is mystifying. Please keep up the great work, Mr. Deering, for your many fans out here.
MARY DEE TAYLOR
Little Rock
Angst continuation
I see the Trumper Tantrums continue unabated. People still scream at the sky and wear pink hats in protest. Some are in denial, and some may still be in shock and unable to leave their parents' basements. These are the very same people who said, "Obama won, get over it."
FRANK LATIMER
Sherwood
Bias seen in wording
The argument that much of the mainstream media is biased toward liberals and Democrats is always pooh-poohed. But I present Exhibit A: Wednesday's front-page picture has a story below it about the immigration debate that I think blurs the line between fact and opinion. The fourth paragraph pits "GOP hard-liners" against Democrat "progressives." A pejorative term for the Republicans, a glowing term for the Democrats. Later in that paragraph, it says "... a bill that can pass both the Tea Party-driven House and the more pragmatic Senate." Who says the House of Representatives is "Tea Party-driven?" I believe that is pure opinion by either the wire reports from which the story is drawn or your staff. This is a front-page news story, not labeled an analysis or opinion piece.
It's been said that those who control the language control the world. In a small way, that proved exactly correct in this instance. Characterizing in negative terms those whom the editors apparently dislike while using flowery or neutral terms for those whom they may like belongs on the editorial or op-ed pages, not the front page over the fold. All one has to do is to note all the "far-right" references in the paper and lament the lack of any "far-left" depictions. It's not rocket science.
You can and should do better.
TOM CANDELA
Bella Vista
Add a new inscription
Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses--what a crock! It should be changed to "Give us your Democratic voters." There should be one more passage added: "Keep your dope dealers, your freeloaders, your gang members, and your mad bombers." If these people are such a benefit to America, why are their countries so messed up?
JOHN H. NELSON
Arkinda
Editorial on 01/28/2018