LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Real support more than words

As I was reading about Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's decision to kick the Blackwater security forces out of Iraq, I was surprised to discover that we have not one, but two armies there: the American troops (169,000) and the private contractors (180,000), both of whom are, of course, paid for by the United States taxpayers.

This is close to Vietnam numbers: 349,000 troops. The problem is, there's not enough money. I believe George W. Bush and Dick Cheney when they pound away about supporting the troops. There's noquestion about their affection and concern. But the money is another thing.

The pitiful and overwhelmed state of health care facilities for veterans, the tightness of veteran benefits, the incentives offered naÃive young men to waive their G.I. Bill educational rights, the stacking of one Iraq tour on top of the other, which has been devastating to military families: This is not real support. Our troops should have the Cadillac plan. I guarantee you they don't.

TOM HEISLER Wynne

Warning label needed

Paul Greenberg [suggested that] an e-mailer [was] an idiot for believing a letter to the editor that was really a spoof. My reaction was that unless the opinion pages, including Voices, are a legitimate venue for spoofs, then Meredith Oakley must be an idiot for printing it.

There may be more spoofs appearing on the opinion pages than we know. Was the Rush Limbaugh-Wesley Clark piece a spoof on Gene Lyons, Pat Lynch and others who use unsubstantiated namecalling in their work? Was Lynch's "Kumbaya" column on the Little Rock School District's board a spoof on those like Clark who say everything will be okie dokie if we just get together and talk?

Was guest columnist Robyn Blumner spoofing about online e-mail responses to editorials that were vile and anonymous? (Actually, I thought her column was a spoof on the pretentious, elitist prigs of the editorial community caterwauling about the left wing losing control of opinion.) Or was the Blackwater editorial a spoof on journalists who give only one side of a story?

Greenberg's commentary revealed that there are people who will believe anything that appears in the media. So should the opinion pages carry a warning label? Attention, idiots, not everything you read here is serious, intelligent opinion-or true.

JAMES J. DALY SR. Edgemont

Attacks dividing nation

I have been a Republican all of my adult life, more than 50 years. I find myself anxious for President Bush to leave office and seriously contemplating a Democrat, especially one like Hillary Clinton, being elected to that office.

The reason is that maybe the media, which I usually refer to as the liberal Democrats' house organs, may then stop the hate campaign against Bush that divides our nation, especially when we really need to stand as one.

The latest attack relates to comments about the disastrous fires of California. Instead of applauding the admirable local response to that catastrophe, the media are busy comparing Bush's leadership in this nation's defense, in the war against terrorists and in the comparative federal response to Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina. I suggest that their comparison should have been to the local leadership's response to its citizens' need for evacuation and the leadership's cooperation with outside aid.

Finally, when analyzing these [natural] catastrophes, take a careful review of the states where they occurred: Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and now California. The states that did it right were led by Republican governors. The state that displayed poor local leadership was led by a Democratic governor.

Republicans promote individual responsibility. Democrats believe that individuals should wait on the federal government.

JAMES MITCHELL Little Rock

Park will cost residents

Recently, a public meeting was held to give the tax-paying citizens of Little Rock three options regarding War Memorial Park. One was a repair phase that would leave the golf course with 18 holes, with some holes being relocated, and take away the tennis courts in favor of soccer fields. The second was the rehab model that removes the tennis courts and makes the golf course nine holes. Third was the revision phase in which the golf course would be replaced with a lake and a boathouse and have no tennis courts.

The first plan was the most palatable, and even it was hard to swallow. But that was it, take it or leave it. However, we were allowed to put our comments on each plan. Only God or Stacy Hurst knows whether they will be taken into account. It wasn't explained to my satisfaction what the costs or benefits werefor any of these plans. Neither did they explain how it is going to be paid for except to say maybe grants or donations. Good luck. Who will keep this park up? The city can't or won't keep up the parks we have now. They spend too much time taking care of the Heights area, where Hurst lives.

Rebsamen Golf Course, which they say makes a profit, is a prime example of the city's neglect after spending thousands to revamp it. Will the voters have a say in the final decision? This task force has used this golf course as its lever to turn it into a wannabe New York Central Park because it lost $106,000 last year, they say. This is a pittance compared to the cost of their grandiose plan, and they are not kidding me. I know who is going to pay for it.

TERRY GREEN Little Rock

Turn from path of greed

To his countrymen in 1974, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's parting statement, "Live not by lies," and his written Nobel lecture, "One word of truth outweighs the world," give one thought as to what our nation's relations would be today with the rest of the world had we also heededhis words.

He, as well as others, continued to speak out and write about a Christian world view for all human actions if civilizations are to benefit and thrive.Comparatively, when one takes a realistic look today, we appear to be willing to fall under the same kinds of controls as others (i.e., "I want my government to provide me with-") rather than self-reliance. This attitude once again requires a repeat from the old lesson. Government does not produce anything. It can only take, by force if necessary, from one person and give to another, with a portion kept to run its bureaucracy.

If we continue along a path that proclaims that greed is good, will we find ourselves devoid of all our original documents, with independence and liberty gone and their tree once again in need of watering? If your answer is "God forbid," then might I suggest that in the next national election you seek out true Christians for leadership in all positions and support them rather than some crypto types.

RAY BURGERMEISTER Greenbrier

Two out for themselves

Richard Holden wrote a short letter saying that Coach Houston Nutt should resign and run for president of the United States.

Well, we have [one] running for president and that's our former Gov. Mike Huckabee. Nutt could not be worse than he. The governor screwed up Arkansas real good and now he wants to do the United States the same way.

On the Glen Beck TV show, the former governor was asked why he went from preacher to politics. He said he wanted to help people. He never helped anyone but himself his whole life and he talks out of both sides of his mouth all the time.

So it would be a toss-up for president, Nutt or Huckabee, right? Both out for themselves.

JEAN BRINK Winslow

In-state games advised

Every SEC team except the Hogs plays in-state schools. Do the Hogs have it right and all the other schools are wrong? Would No. 2 LSU be better off playing Tennessee-Chattanooga and Florida International instead of Louisiana Tech and Tulane?

The Hogs need to join the rest of the SEC and start playing in-state schools. Why? Money, convenience, politics, fan interest. It especially makes sense for sports like tennis, track, volleyball and baseball. Think back to how much excitement was generated when Arkansas State University finally got a chance to play the Hogs in the National Invitation Tournament. Imagine an early-season basketball tournament at Alltel with the Hogs, ASU and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Other SEC schools do this with success.

Imagine an annual football game between the Hogs and ASU at War Memorial. Why give the University of Louisiana-Monroe a 10-year contract vs. ASU? Hopefully, the new Hog athletic director will finally allow the Hogs to join the SEC.

JAMES B. BIENVENU Little Rock

City sees a green future

Bill Clinton's recent promotion of green technology as a means of not just keeping our planet livable but as a healthy means of job creation excites me. It's abright, alluring, potential way out of the dismal, fast-descending mess I feel our planet is in.

And it makes me proud to live in Fayetteville. Dan Coody has worked earnestly to make Fayetteville as green and eco-friendly as a mayor can. It's his passion, and he's received national recognition for it (and brought us more attention on the "good city" lists). Now Fayetteville is starting to drawattention from genius-type researchers interested in pushing science into green breakthroughs and practical applications. Potentially, we could draw a Steve Jobs or Bill Gates into our "green" technology park. That would be fabulous for our town (as long as we develop sanely and not just big, ugly and smelly).

If Coody chooses not to run again, I hope our next mayor has the desire and fire to carry on.

JOYA POPE Fayetteville

Travel wasn't symbolic

As Hillary Clinton's scandals at home multiplied and questions about her role in Whitewater, the Rose Law Firm, the disappearance of the billing records and the commodities market trading all got louder, Hillary adopted the patented formula of presidents in trouble: She left the country.

Hillary was about to become a world traveler. This is not, of course, how Hillary remembers the decision to travel. In her book, "Living History," she once again invokes the name of a celebrity, writing that it was Mary Catherine Bateson, the anthropologist daughter of Margaret Mead, who first explained to her how travel could have a symbolic significance. As Hillary writes, "I understood her point and I soon became a convert to the view that I could advance the Clinton agenda through symbolic action."

Advance the agenda? Horse manure. It was to dodge the negative publicity at home while having a great vacation.

RICHARD WITHERSPOON Rockport

Being nice no bad thing

Let me make this as short as possible. If you don't believe in God and you have a problem with a person who does running this country, then get the hell out of here. Go to another country that wants your trouble-making self.

I am so tired of the unbelievers acting like they can control everything. What is wrong with being Christian? What is wrong with being nice to each other, not stealing, not killing, not sleeping around with everyone? Just being a good person: What is the big problem people have with that? If we pray, that is our business. Stay out of it.

DELANA DAVIDSON Carlisle

Feedback

System overburdened

I am not an optometrist, but I can help you see which direction America is headed.

If the auto industry buys out the health and disability benefits of its employees, where will they get needed help? You guessed it, Medicare and Medicaid. This system is overburdened and growing with Baby Boomers every day. The blue- and white-collar workers are paying most of the taxes that the government spends. We should not have CEOs getting huge bonuses while working Americans have to have two jobs to make ends meet.

It makes me sick when big corporations say that if they sell for less, they will have to pass it on to the consumer. Why can't the top brass get less or at least share it with the consumer? The trucking freight carriers and oil companies are the ones making the most profits now. How much fuel would be saved if 18-wheelers would be limited to 55 mph?

BUDDY B. JONES Texarkana

'Stupid law' not stupid Letter writer John Frey complains that "some stupid law" makes persons born in the United States citizens of the United States. That "stupid law" happens to be the U.S. Constitution. It's in the 14th Amendment.

KEN PARKER Little Rock