LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Move is a good idea

The Walton Family Foundation’s desire to anchor the Walton Arts Center offerings from the current site adjacent to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to a northern location near Bentonville’s emerging cultural center will expand access for many area residents.

This will be welcome news to those who support varied cultural offerings in the region, mirroring the recent emphasis on the performing arts in school districts such as Gravette.

The demographics support expansion to meet the needs of a diverse audience. As a Bella Vista volunteer for WAC, I think Benton County will provide a reliable pool of volunteers for this cultural and economic opportunity.

SUZANNE JESSUP Bella Vista

Awakening needed

As a child, he was forced to work in a child-labor racket pasting labels on ink bottles in front of a window. Wealthy children who were allowed to get an education stopped by the window and stared at him. What the young boy wanted most of all was to get an education, but it was impossible because his father had been placed in a debtor’s prison.

Charles Dickens grew up to be a writer and helped start a “Great Awakening” of brotherly love all over the world. America needs a Great Awakening right now.

Most Americans are overly concerned about what goes into their mouths-more calcium, more Vitamin D, more fiber. But what about what comes out of the mouth? The Bible says it is more important as the words we speak come out of the heart.

A change of heart is what’s needed for America, especially for the “me generation,” which is indifferent to an education. The word education is based on the Latin words educare, meaning to draw out.

Of course, having one’s mouth washed out with soap would be simpler, but a revival of reading, writing and arithmetic would be cheap. It also would be a thousand times more effective than what American education has degenerated into-a cesspool of “choose to do or say anything you want,” as if preparation for life were some kind of cafeteria.

ELIZABETH ANDERSON Russellville

Speak up for animals

I agree with the letter written by Shawn McDonald. Animal neglect is abuse, e.g., dogs tied to trees in the hot sun with no water and no shelter; also dogs in pens with no shelter from rain or the hot sun.

I feed homeless cats all over my town.

They live under buses and storage buildings and in drain pipes. I’ve contacted the Humane Society twice for help, but they aren’t interested.

We wouldn’t have homeless animals if everyone would have their pets sterilized. That’s part of taking care of them. I do hope there is room in Hell for people who love to torture anything. Abusers need to go to jail for a long time and never be allowed to own another animal. Puppy mills need to be banned also.

Please, if you see animal abuse or neglect, call the police. If you see a homeless animal, stop and feed it. If you want a pet, go to the animal shelter and adopt one. It might save a life and it will make you happy. We have to speak up for the voiceless.

MAXINE McCUE McCrory

Term was offensive

I find it hard to believe that in a country where men and women are dying daily to protect the freedom of its people, the one person who is denied his right to express his opinion is the leader of those who are dying.

When that person is in a position to know what he his talking about, why should he-or they-be subject to the very censorship they are fighting against simply because it ruffles a few feathers? Whatever happened to freedom of speech?

Are the leaders of our country so egotistical that they think they are above any criticism? I say if the shoe fits, wear it.

I take great offense to your editorial’s term, “mouthing off.” Simply because a person is wearing a military uniform does not mean he is obligated

to agree with everything his “superiors” say and do, especially when they have not proved to be especially competent in their positions.

Does freedom of speech now mean only if you support and agree with those in office? Does freedom of speech now mean for everyone except those who are laying their lives on the line for it?

Perhaps those who called for Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s resignation should be asking instead, “What if everything he said is true?”

LINDA MASSEY Melbourne

Bud Selig’s bad call

But for a bad call by an umpire, Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game recently. His teammates were denied the honor as well, since it took all of them to make it happen.

It was the umpire who made a mistake. The pitcher and his teammate didn’t make any. The pitcher was in the lineup. The umpire wasn’t, yet the mistake by the man who wasn’t playing trumped the efforts of those who were.

Apparently, baseball commissioner Bud Selig felt sorry for the umpire and wouldn’t change the call. Perhaps it made him feel more righteous to forgive a mistake than to allow a team and a pitcher’s dream to come true. Perhaps that’s the real mistake.

GEORGE DICKEY Sheridan

General’s next move

Gen. Stanley McChrystal should file a federal suit against Barack Obama on the basis that he is not legally commander-in-chief and demand in court that he provide a raised-seal birth certificate as American-born. If the document is provided, Obama wins. If the document cannot be presented, then Obama is not legally commander-in chief and cannot fire McChrystal.

DENNIS MILAM North Little Rock

Warming has arrived

To all those folks that asked “Where is the global warming?” last winter, well, it’s here. For those too young or out of state in 1980, brace yourself. This will not be good.

ANDY NEDOROLIK Lonoke