LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Where are the moderates?

Where are the Republican moderate legislators and why are more of them not speaking up?

I have a hard time believing that the more moderate members-and there must be more than a few-agree with their right-wing leaders’ filibuster abuse and other efforts to block any legislation that the Democrats propose. I cannot believe that all the Republican legislators agree with the wild accusations and promotion of misinformation, half-truths and untruths that we have heard from the Republican leadership in both houses.

They try to imply that they had no part in creating the debt. I guess they have forgotten about the massive Medicare Part D program, the huge tax cuts (mostly for the very well-todo) and the two wars they engaged the nation in without raising revenues to pay for any of these ongoing expenses that are still accumulating.

Remember that the financial problems did not start when President Obama took office. I believe the deregulation of Wall Street and the massive unfounded spending by the Republicans during the Bush administration were responsible for much of the problem.

The Democratic moderates, some known as Blue Dogs, do not seem to be afraid to challenge their leadership. I would like to see more moderate Republicans-Red Dogs?-challenge their leadership and vote their conscience.

EMMA L. BADGLEY Fayetteville

Review inadequate

Your readers would never know from Bobby Ampezzan’s review that Voices for Justice was a transcendent evening of music and support for the West Memphis Three.

Less than a fourth of his review discusses the concert’s contents, and he incorrectly identifies the final song. What’s worse, the review contains a measly three sentences about the cause that brought together such celebrities as Johnny Depp, Eddie Vedder, Natalie Maines, Patti Smith, the band members of Fistful of Mercy and Academy Award-winning producer/actress Lisa Blount.

Apparently Ampezzan thought it more important to report that a fan yelled, “I love you, Johnny!” to Depp than what he was trying to do when she rudely interrupted him: read a powerfully moving entry from Damien Echols’ Death Row journal. He also thought it more important to mention Maines’ “shaved head” (a bizarre way to describe short hair) and Depp’s clothing than the songs they performed or the words they spoke.

Nor did he mention that several people spoke with eloquence and passion about the injustice visited upon the West Memphis Three, including Rev. Thompson Murray of the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church; Capi Peck of Arkansas Take Action; and Lorri Davis, Echols’ wife.

I feel sorry for those who missed the Voices of Justice event, including Ampezzan.

DAVID JAUSS Little Rock

Unity proves elusive

The country united after 9/11 against the perceived enemy, which turned out not to be the actual enemy. Isn’t it a shame that both houses of Congress cannot unite against the actual enemies of the U.S., poverty, ignorance and class warfare, and the divisions caused thereby? Isn’t it a shame that the population cannot unite for the good of all?

A country united cannot fall or fail, but a divided country is sure to. As a person who cares deeply for my community, my state and my country, I am dismayed by the actions of politicians of both parties, the tea party and the rich persons who seem to be controlling all of them. Many of our problems stem from the selfishness manifested by those who ship jobs to low-wage countries and believe that Americans without jobs can still buy their products, and those who tack unneeded pork-barrel projects to otherwise good bills, making the whole of it just another boondoggle.

Elections cost too much and the process takes much too long. That is only good for those who sell their services to politicians and those who are paid to publicize their comments. That the citizenry is sick and tired of the whole business is evident. That they do not know what to do about it is even more evident.

The U.S. will pursue its downward trajectory as long as its people and its political parties can find no common ground for agreement or action for the good of all.

MARILYN BRYAN Taylor

Celebration baffling

I have a question about celebrating the Mexican Independence Day in Little Rock: Do they celebrate July 4, our Independence Day, in Mexico City? If not, then I have a second question: Why is Little Rock hosting celebrations for theirs?

Nearly any person is welcome in the United States if he comes here legally. They should, however, learn the language and use it, at least out in public. Learn the laws and culture, live by them. I think it would create a lot less animosity if the United States was not considered to be northern Mexico.

We need people in Washington, D.C., who will work to enforce our immigration laws, make English the national language and [support an amendment to] our Constitution to make desecration of our flag a violation of federal law.

DAVID WEAVER Sherwood

Bring Lincoln home

Blanche Lincoln was sent to Washington to do the bidding and voting for what the majority of the people of Arkansas who sent her there want. She was not sent there to do what she thinks is right over and above the wishes of the people of Arkansas.

She is effectively saying that the people of Arkansas do not know what is good for them, she does. That is socialism, that is communism. Get her out of there.

JERRY BINGHAM Hot Springs VillageTry the Middle East

In Larry Coleman’s recent letter about his displeasure with Mississippi, the people who oppose the Islamic center around Ground Zero, Paul Greenberg and Glenn Beck, he asked, “Where can I go now?”

I have a few suggestions. He could try Saudia Arabia, Iran or Pakistan. But a note of caution: I would not take a Holy Bible. It might get his head lobbed off.

BILLY J. BURKE Hope

Who cast the votes?

Mrs. O’Leary’s cow had a premonition that nothing good would ever come out of Chicago and took appropriate action, but to no avail.

Since that fiery night, we have had a series of corrupt leaders. Al Capone: bootleg whiskey, gambling, prostitution, gangland killings, administration officials being bought off or killed, the establishment of corrupt unions that had the power and often used it to shut down commerce citywide. Police officials also were on the payroll.

Then came the Daley machine, which controlled all facets of government in the city. Jesus Christ couldn’t win as a dog catcher on the Republican ticket in a city election.

Now Chicago is controlled by another Daley, his son.

Our president got his training (as a community organizer) in this corrupt environment. And what amazes me the most: Though I’ve tried repeatedly, I can’t find anybody who voted for him. Amazing.

HAROLD O. MONROE ClarksvilleFOX promotes fear

During the 2009 NCAA basketball tournament, there was another bracket going around the Internet picking the Axis of Evil through a round-by round process. The final round came down to Blackwater vs. FOX News, and FOX won.

I am horrified at the fear that FOX promotes, the rage it incites and how it is brainwashing the American public who misguidedly only watch that network.

FOX News is not news, it is the voice of the Republican Party, which has nothing in common with our fathers’ Republican Party. Their dirty tricks remind me of the Nixon years.Now here is a minister talking about burning the Koran in some misguided vision.

Who do you think incited this kind of action? FOX News and its obsession with hatred of Muslims and the center to be built two blocks from Ground Zero, stirring a pot best left alone. Some of those who lost loved ones on 9/11 have united in support of this Islamic community center.

The messiah of FOX News is Glenn Beck, whose evangelic facade only spews contempt of our government and everything it is trying to accomplish for the people. I didn’t think Christians were supposed to promote all the things Christ fought to obliterate from our society.

I totally agree with letter writer Austin Stewart and his assessment of why we should all vote Democratic.

SHARON WILLIAMS Little Rock

Future looking grim

The thugs in Washington are raiding the till. Not much the average citizen can do. They that’s them have the pencils.

What to be prepared for in what future is left: no democracy, no flag, no Constitution. Also, you don’t hear our National Anthem anymore. The word Caucasian will cease to exist. Our borders will be called a migrant entry. The drug cartels from Colombia and Mexico and millions from the banana republics will destroy our Constitution.

Lobbyists will totally control Washington. Communist China will buy into our most important stocks and such, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Our troops will be sent to many Muslim nations to keep our money and taxes going overseas. The money can then be stolen in briefcases by our roving politicians and so-called do-gooders.

We cannot solve other nations’ problems. We need a balanced budget and to take care of our problems and our borders.

NORMAN HARVEY Cherokee Village

Certified aid needed

Fall brings one of the most important activities for our state-high school football. But who is on the sidelines, in both practices and games, ensuring the health of our kids?

Is it a coach? Our coaches are great persons, but they are not trained in emergency management skills as well as how to deal with athletic injuries. Your school needs a certified athletic trainer.

Less than 12 percent of our schools have daily access to quality health care for our student athletes. We can do better. If your school doesn’t have an AT, ask why not. Let’s do as much as we can to prevent and manage injuries. Hiring an AT is a cost-effective way of doing just that.

B.J. MAACK Little Rock

Keep the people, too

The role of the president is to not just keep the law, but also to keep the hearts of the people.

Sept. 11, 2001, is a deep wound for Americans, just like Nov. 22, 1963, and Dec. 7, 1942. We will never forget or recuperate completely from these.

The attacks on the Twin Towers were not just on two buildings, but upon our free-enterprise system, which makes us great. Building a mosque nearby, though legal, inflicts another blow on unhealed wounds in our hearts.

Mr. President, keep the people, not just the law. It’s not about rights, but about sensitivity.

ALLEN ANTONS Hot Springs

Feedback Theories ruled out

Re Roger Burke’s letter about World Trade Center Building 7: Many agencies have investigated the collapse of the building and have ruled out any demolition theories.

When the north World Trade Center building collapsed, large pieces of perimeter columns smashed into Building 7, thus causing a large rip in the south side of the building, a large hole in the center, connected to a large rip in the left side, adding up to a hole 20 stories tall.

There are videos showing this structural damage plus raging fires as well. Firemen knew in advance that the building would collapse and withdrew their men to a safe distance from the building’s collapse area. Roger might check the debunking911 website, among others, to check this information out.

By the way, Building 7 was rebuilt and officially reopened for business on May 23, 2006.

SALLY ANABLE Hot Springs Village