Time for our semi-weekly hand gestures to reflect some of the ups and downs of recent news and community events:
Let's applaud Greenwood for its discussions of whether solar energy might prove a beneficial approach for powering the city's seven buildings and other energy needs. Naturally, it makes sense to crunch the numbers with some skepticism to make sure the strategy isn't more show than substance, but the technology of solar energy equipment is making new installations more feasible all the time. More and more cities and counties as well as businesses are realizing an approach that does less harm to the environment can also make economic sense. Fayetteville and Washington County have separately pressed forward on solar projects to produce energy savings and/or smaller environmental footprints. Walmart announced earlier this year plans to power 40 of its stores in five states with solar energy.
Of course, the drama playing out Washington, D.C., over President Trump's nontraditional foreign policy methodologies is full of partisan politics. Everything that plays out in the nation's capital is full of partisan politics. Some claim that fact to suggest it renders the serious concerns about the president's behaviors as inconsequential. They're not, whether they rise to impeachable offenses or not. Both Democrats and Republicans are engaged in sound-bite/social media strategies because they recognize attention spans for most Americans have dwindled so much a 30-second commercial seems an eternity. Indeed, politicians and "influencers" count on our shortened attention spans, because it allows them to get away with unsupported but flashy, eyebrow-raising comments. Who needs facts when all it takes to manipulate people's reaction is agreement with the sentiment? So we're left with a bunch of conjured outrage from Capitol Hill, on social media and television. If our homes, businesses and communities could be powered by sequestering all the false outrage in Washington these days, we'd have the climate change issue resolved in a month.
Count us thankful that there were no reports of injuries from Wednesday's massive blaze at United Industries UltraBoard at 1900 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville. The dark smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, and flames roared high above surrounding buildings. Yet again, we have reason to appreciate the folks who train for these sorts of incidents, rare as they may be. Firefighters from Bentonville, Rogers and Bella Vista attacked the blaze, demonstrating the power of cooperation among neighboring communities.
We'll always have the dishonest among us, but sometimes circumstances lead us to just shake our heads in disbelief that someone with a shortage of ethical boundaries can be so, well, dumb in the practice of their criminality. We're talking about the giant hog-shaped smoker that once belonged to the late Little Rock businessman and philanthropist Jennings Osborne. Now, "Big Frank," as the smoker is called, is owned by barbecue enthusiast Buddy Rhoads. It was in his driveway for some repair work when someone stole the 14-foot-tall, 20-foot-long behemoth. Clearly, this was an impulse crime. How else could one explain its lack of, shall we say, forethought? It took little time for someone to recognize it and report its location to the sheriff, who then used a drone to fly over the fenced property where it had been taken. As predicted, the big, red device was impossible to miss. We don't have any inside information as to the crime, but we figure the suspect(s) are in for a real grilling by detectives.
It's always gratifying to see the kids down at Fayetteville High School conducting their annual homeless vigil to raise money for the school's Families in Transition program. The effort, in which students spend part of the night today and early Friday in makeshift shelters outside the school, usually raises several thousand dollars. They also accept nonperishable food items. Kudos to those involved for embracing a helpful spirit.
Give’em a thumb
Want to give some brief feedback on news? Someone who deserves a pat on the back? An idea that needs a dose of common sense? Recommend a “Thursday thumb” by calling Greg Harton at (479) 872-5026 or by email at [email protected].
Commentary on 12/05/2019