Letters

Main point's missed

Philip Martin is a good writer and, I believe, a talented fellow. I don't personally agree with his views on some occasions. Mr. Martin probably wouldn't ask for my defense of his work, but of course I'll give it anyway. A short letter on Saturday by Connie Meskimen states that Martin's column last Tuesday has as its entire thesis "that he never smoked much dope, but that other people might have."

If I am permitted, I will quote a paragraph from Mr. Martin's column. I believe that this is his main point.

He said: "It seems bizarre that people who would give others dirty looks for throwing a plastic bottle in a trash can rather than a recycling bin, who make a point of insisting on fair-trade coffee, and who rail against the cruelty inherent in factory farming are perfectly willing to support an industry that forces people into slavery--that uses rape and murder as a way to negotiate with its labor force--by buying a baggie of pot from Slacker Steve."

FRED SAWYER

Little Rock

A stark contrast seen

The contrast between the late George H.W. Bush and the current goon in the Oval Office could not be more striking.

Consider: A war hero fighter pilot who risked his life defending America on a regular basis/a cowardly draft dodger who weaseled out of military service several times. A loyal, faithful husband, married to the same woman for 73 years/a man, married three times, who bragged about grabbing women by the genitals. An honest man who continued to succeed, as his father did, in business/a person given hundreds of millions of dollars by his father but scammed people in a bogus "university" and declared bankruptcy at least four times. An exemplary, decent Christian man/a vulgar, lying, crude, narcissistic bully.

It's actually hard to believe that both these men occupied the same office. Though these men have little in common, I hope that, eventually, they will share one thing: a one-term presidency.

JOHN C. JARBOE

North Little Rock

Outstanding service

I want to thank the Little Rock (McClellan) and the North Little Rock (Fort Roots) Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for outstanding service. Volunteers drive and return veterans from around the state for appointments at Little Rock. This is not Phoenix. I applied for disability on Oct. 12 and was approved on Nov. 14. I never have a problem obtaining appointments for eye, dermatology or primary care, and don't wait longer than 30 minutes to see a doctor.

Also, I want to thank the Arkansas State Veterans Service Officers and their staff at Fort Roots. Many thanks to all the doctors, nurses and staff at the Little Rock VA Service. Thank you!

ANDY NEDOROLIK

Lonoke

On liberal ideology

I got a kick out of reading Bradley Gitz's Dec. 3 column. Apparently, Gitz is convinced that classic liberalism, growing out of the Scottish Enlightenment, is currently dead, replaced by beliefs and behaviors that will lead inevitably to socialism and communism, if they haven't already.

He contrasted his version of current "left wing" thought with the classic liberal thought on a variety of topics, including freedom and equality; the role of government and the state; attitudes toward private property and capitalism; the basis of rights; and freedom of speech. In all cases, the "classic" points of view had been supplanted, in his mind at least, by the (socialist, communist, and surely evil) views of "contemporary liberals," apparently none of whom know about or subscribe to the tenets of classic liberal thought.

And yet, as Gitz described classic liberal thought, there I was, a currently living, breathing human, nodding in agreement as my basic philosophy was laid out. And shaking my head, if not recoiling in horror, as he alternately described the ideology of "current liberals." I doubt I am the only such relic (a classic liberal) in existence. And I doubt Gitz would be able to find anybody who wholeheartedly embraces the wrongheaded misunderstanding of liberal thought he ascribes to current liberals.

One of the oldest tricks in argumentative discourse is the creation of the "straw man"--"an intentionally misrepresented proposition that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent's real argument." Gitz's column is a clear use of the technique.

On the other hand, Gitz's passing reference to the Scottish Enlightenment reminds of a book I'd like to recommend: Arthur Herman's How the Scots Invented the Modern World, which traces, among other subjects, the influence that the Scottish School of Common Sense exerted on the writers of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. Now there's some liberal ideology worthy of being current!

CHALON RAGSDALE

Fayetteville

His steady leadership

What a wonderful respite this past week has provided us, and I hope it has made us more aware of the contrast between the misdirected, tradition-bashing, questionably legal activities of the current White House and the faithful service, patriotic example, and steady leadership of George H.W. Bush.

Regardless of our usual party leanings, as Americans we must wholeheartedly recognize the benefits that came to our country from electing a president who chose to live a life of service over self-aggrandizement and personal enrichment, and who recognized the value of choosing truth and facts over smoke and mirrors. George H.W. Bush was widely known to seek the counsel and follow the advice of experts rather than claiming more knowledge than the experts and following his gut feelings.

May we regain our national sanity and never make such a mistake again.

DENNIS A. BERRY

Bryant

Editorial on 12/11/2018

Upcoming Events