LETTERS

— No sport in shooting

The feature story “Shoot to thrill” reminds me of an incident that happened a few years back.

A young man walked into the shop where I work and tried to give me two tickets to play paint ball. I politely said, “No, thank you.”

His response was “You think you are too old to play?”

My answer was very carefully and slowly stated: “No, I have shot real bullets at real people and have had real people shoot real bullets at me in my five tours in South Vietnam and it was not fun then. I do not think play war would be any fun, either.”

He had a stunned look on his face and said, “I’m sorry I bothered you,” and left.

NEIL R. SPARKS Fayetteville

Assessment sobering

Ted Koppel’s Washington Post critique of the transition of TV journalism was both sad and sobering. He noted the diminishing of international news personnel and bureaus, reflecting less aggressive attention to worldwide journalistic reporting of news during the last 40 years.

Koppel suggests that this change began

with the initial profitability of TV news reporting by CBS in 1968 with “60 Minutes.” News reporting for the first time became identified as a source of income. His strongest point, however, is the growing erosion of factual news on America’s television networks. Partisan views are often mixed with facts. News reporters can and do often offer their own personalized version of news. Their “news” reflects a clear mixture of opinion with truth.

If we are serious about being intelligently informed, we will wisely give careful attention to what we hear and read. There was an implied warning to us all regarding news in Koppel’s quote of Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s statement, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.”

The applicable definition of journalism, chosen from Merriam-Webster’s, is writing-or speaking-characterized by a direct presentation offacts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation. This definition suggests that Koppel’s comments view journalism on the part of many TV reporters as rare.

GRANT GROVES De Queen

Raising taxes is easy

Clever positioning or just coincidence? A recent letters page had two letters that appeared side by side. One titled “They don’t deserve it” could be ample argument to refute the claims of the second titled “Raise wealthy’s taxes.”

Letter writer Bernard Doud would rather tax rich folks so that roads, schools and public works projects can be funded. I believe we pay gasoline taxes that are used on building and maintaining our roads. How much more money do we need to fund schools that are failing or more public works projects like the $20 million trolley in Downtown Little Rock? Contrast this foolish notion with the letter about a poor lady living on such a meager income that she is starving herself. The author was able to get this poor lady $92 in food stamps after having to endure the sight of less needy individuals seeking the same government relief.

Maybe we can fix both of these writers’ concerns. Let’s purchase some heavy equipment, dig a deep hole and push these welfare frauds into it. Could that be considered a public works job-creating project?

Yes, I’m just trying to make the point that we don’t need higher taxes on anyone, especially those who create the jobs. What we need is better accountability and oversight into whom we provide our tax-supported public welfare and works projects. But then, raising taxes is easy. Cleaning up the fraud and waste takes time and courage.

DON SHELLABARGER Little Rock

May be cartoon here

I read the story about the national report card. I read the Editorial page. I read the editorial [about John Boozman’s stand on earmarking]. I again read the story about the national report card.

Newton was right. John Deering, there is a cartoon here.

BOB WAGER McGehee

Replace S.C. group

Re the editorial, “Step right up, suckers”: I get the reference to “His Grace” and “Big Ernie” Passailaigue. Amore appropiate name might be Fast Ernie because he appears to play fast and loose with rules and regulations.

Instead of condemning and seeking repeal of the state lottery, why don’t we replace Fast Ernie and his South Carolina posse with some Arkansas folks?

The lottery is not a bad thing. It does help provide money for education. It also provides entertainment and the chance at a dream. Besides, only optimists play the lottery.

STEVEN ALLEN Harrison

Name too confusing

I’m a native Kansan. I moved to the fine state of Arkansas in 1997. When in Kansas, the Arkansas River is pronounced “Arkan-SAZ River.” Whenin Arkansas, the Arkansas River, which runs past my home town, is pronounced “Arkan-SAW River.”

Both are correct, depending on which state you are in. In either state, you will be told the correct pronunciation should you say it wrong.

It’s confusing to me when I hear the media call the people of Arkansas Arkansans. I always hear it as “Our Kansans.” The people of Kansas are my people and are “my Kansans.” Maybe the people of Arkansas should be called Arkansinians or “the wonderful people of Arkansas.” ALLEN GIES Little Rock Justice was not served

Re the news story, “Sex-case deal averts prison time” by John Lynch: I am late in writing this. I felt too helpless to respond earlier.

A little girl, alone in her pain, cried out for help. She did everything she could. Placing a phone call was all she could do to defend herself.

For six years of her 11-year-old life, she later told investigators, her attacker molested her and raped her and even cut her with a box knife tointimidate her into silence. He was arrested, spent seven months in jail awaiting his trial, then through a plea bargain was released without serving any additional time.

The prosecutors say they had the evidence. Why did they quit working for her defense and give him ease for his actions instead? Though this case is completed in its legal process, the result is unjustifiable. This decision, legitimate by law and by logic, is a failure.

Some news accounts remain in one’s thoughts for the wrong reason. This one has stayed with me for months. I felt helpless after reading this report because I ask: Is this little girl, or any other child like her, any safer? I cannot answer yes.

MARY REBECCA COWGILL Jacksonville

Is it from time travel?

Another question for letter writer Charles Pratt: How have these scholars examined a question over 60 years that has only arisen over the last year or so?

ROBERT HALL Little Rock

Editorial, Pages 21 on 11/26/2010

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