LETTERS

Our hope is greater

Sitting here listening to the evening news after a day at the Salvation Army Center of Hope, I was moved to write the people of Central Arkansas a positive message regarding the good things going on.

I was encouraged by the shows that are starting about the most glorious season of all and the miraculous power of Jesus Christ to change lives. We will see many lost souls walk through our Center of Hope, but we are ever committed to the belief that their lives can be changed for the better.

One of my favorite movies of all time is It’s A Wonderful Life and I smile when I hear the bell ring and know that an angel just got his wings.

The Christmas tradition has begun and our Salvation Army bells are ringing. Miracles occur as one person after another hears the sound of the bells and makes a contribution. Thank you! To all who adopt a family, pick up some angels from an angel and tree know that over 15,000 gifts will be given to the poor and most in need right here in Central Arkansas. The need is great, but our hope is greater.

Let me close by thanking everyone who supports the Salvation Army through our Center of Hope, food pantries, Red Kettle Campaign, food pantries, Angel Trees and more.

May God bless you all and may you all have a merry, merry Christmas season.

ROGER GLICK

Little Rock

Famous last words?

There are some things for future presidents to remember. Otherwise, their epitaphs may look something like this:

Richard M. Nixon: “Your president is not a crook.”

George H.W. Bush: “Read my lips.”

Bill Clinton: “I did not have sex with that woman.”

Barack Obama: “You can keep your health plan if you like it. Period.”

CLARA FISHER FIELDS

Bentonville

Act harming millions

I think it took a lack of knowledge and/or integrity and/or wisdom to vote for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Any congressman who voted for this act should permanently retire from public office as soon as possible. I think their votes will eventually result in national instability, and it is currently resulting in harm to millions of American citizens.

PAUL CHRIST

Harrison

Atmosphere a turkey

Lost: One Thanksgiving holiday. Last seen somewhere between the craziness of Halloween and the mad rush of Christmas. If spotted, approach with caution. May appear to be confused and disoriented, unsure of its status. No reward. Just keep for yourself. Not sure anyone wants it.

Or what’s left of it. It’s hardly the robust celebrant of yesteryear. Once happy and content with its spot on the national calendar, it started to be crowded out when the traditional 12 days of Christmas were stretched backward to 12 weeks or more. When back-to-school sales are over, out comes the Christmas merchandise.

Now there’s this thing called Black Friday that has been pushed back so far that folks hardly have time for the traditional family dinner before heading to the stores. Eating a turkey leg out of a box while waiting in line for a store to open now passes for the modern Thanksgiving dinner.

Perhaps a Thanksgiving breakfast would allow more time for shopping. Then its nickname could be changed from “turkey day” to “bacon day.” The president could just as easily pardon a pig as well as a turkey.

The problem is Thanksgiving is just not commercial enough. A lot of turkeys are sold, but little else. And the habit of families just sitting around enjoying each other’s company over a good meal and being thankful for it and so much else seems to be going out of style. Instead we watch football, toy with our little hand-held devices or run to the sales.

Anyone care for a Bacon Day breakfast sandwich? It’s sad.

JOHN McPHERSON

Searcy

More to worry about

As I sit here and think of the power of almighty God, this image comes to mind: God sits down to answer his prayer line for the day. Suffering in Syria-delete, starving in Africa-delete, global warming-delete, typhoon in Philippines-delete, tornadoes in the Midwest-delete.

And then this one: Michael Hunt lost his work shoes-answer.

Really! Does he really think, with all the other problems in the world, God cares where he misplaced his shoes?

J. KIRBY DAVIS SR.

Searcy

The language spoken

Re William Kramer’s letter stating, “if English was good enough for Jesus Christ…”: I must tell you that Jesus did not speak English. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The New Testament was written in Greek. Translations followed. Jesus’ primary language was Aramaic, and he almost certainly knew Hebrew and perhaps Greek.

Some credible scholars believe that Hebrew and/or Greek were commonly used by Jews in Judea during the time of Jesus. I believe it is, nevertheless, highly unlikely that Jesus spoke Latin as envisioned in The Passion of the Christ.

BETTY J. BROKAW

Pea Ridge

Their responsibilities

George Dean Patterson nailed it in his letter. I believe the only reason folks who do not want to take out health insurance have is because they know that when they get to the ER, they will receive treatment whether or not they can pay for it. This is because of EMTALA-the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.

The fact that their nonpayment lands on the laps of taxpayers does not seem to bother these deadbeats. It is not that I don’t want people who are too poor to take out a health-insurance policy to be treated in the ER, but because I don’t like the fact that some people can take out health insurance but simply do not want to spend the money. The deadbeats can simply say, “I do not want the government to tell me what I must do,” and not have to deal with the consequences.

If we do away with EMTALA and those who are uninsured will simply not be picked up by an ambulance and left to their own devices and possibly die, then perhaps people will see and realize that health care and health insurance are individual responsibilities. Those too poor should be getting health care via Medicaid and I believe most already do.

VIVIAN MICHAELS

Bella Vista