LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Simply family values

Presumably those who believe procreation is a “primary goal” of marriage not only oppose all forms of birth control, but also oppose vasectomies and tubal ligations, surgical procedures which, ideally, prevent procreation. Presumably such people would further want to impose sanctions on married couples who choose not to have children, would want all prospective brides and grooms to be tested for fertility prior to marriage, and would further declare that post-menopausal single women simply need not apply.

Regardless of whether or not procreation is a goal of marriage, marriage is, legally speaking, a distinct benefit to procreation, or rather to parenthood. Many same-sex couples are raising children, whether biological or adopted, to the same degree of success as many heterosexual couples. I’ve met children who were raised by gay parents and I’ve perceived no difference between them and children raised by heterosexual parents. Evidently one can be a great parent regardless of sexual orientation.

As some people may not know, from a legal standpoint, marriage confers upon married couples numerous rights and benefits-from what I understand, several hundred of them-that aren’t afforded to unmarried couples.

Same sex marriage would thus confer those rights and benefits to those gay couples who choose to marry, and to the children whom they’re raising. Sounds like sort of a basic “family values” thing to me.

I’m not gay, I just care.

RONALD BYRD JR.

North Little Rock

Victory was deserved

My daughter is on the Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves softball team that recently won the state championship in Fayetteville. Imagine my surprise the next day when I anxiously flipped as fast as I could to the sports section, only to read the headline “Lake Hamilton’s ‘worst group’ wins.” Not only that, but to include the negative remarks, in my opinion, made by Russellville’s coach was unnecessary and unsportsmanlike.

Every game has a winner and a loser. This article was horrible, especially in view of the fact that we are talking about kids here. These girls worked so hard to get where they were and deserved better than what the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette gave them.

Well, if you win against all odds . . . you win. No one can ever take that away from them. They have acted with humility, maturity and determination.

The paper’s writer would be wise to follow suit.

JANET WEATHERFORD

Pearcy

True believers waning

A recent letters section of Voices was short in number and in length, but the one by Lambert G. Smith made up for that.

He wrote in one sentence of “this infinitely good” God and a bit later about hell, where those who don’t believe in God go.

How can a God be infinitely good and still condemn to hell everyone who, for whatever reason, doesn’t believe in him?

Christianity is sometimes about love, but only for members. It is also about absolute power, fear and control.

No wonder members of traditional churches are leaving in droves.

GLENROY EMMONS

Hot Springs Village

A revival of the old?

Have you noticed that something very strange is happening throughout the universe?

If you’ve ever been interested in the concept of evolution, an old relationship is returning between man and animals. It could be significant. The evil in man has increased since he raised himself above the life he once led as a common criminal of nature.

We are beginning to witness a growing concern between the two. In my opinion, it could turn out to be an even stronger movement than the relationship with the god concept that may turn out to be a figment of man’s imagination.

There’s a most revealing account titled “Wild things: Animal nature, human racism, and the future of zoos,”in Harper’s Magazine. Get it. Read it. If you don’t agree with it, then throw it away and continue to place your bet on old tried failures such as religion, government, rich and poor, etc.

Man and animal once had a working relationship until man sought to make himself God. It would seem the animal would be agreeable-no more doctors, no more pains.

OLEN GRANT

Hot Springs

Snakes are in Florida

Trayvon Martin was a child killed by, in my opinion, a trigger-happy gun-toting thug, George Zimmerman. People are pouring money into his account to try and get this man off for killing a child.

I do hope these people realize God has the last say. The Bible said thou shall not kill, steal, lie, etc. They are people who think money will buy them a one-way ticket to heaven. Sorry to tell them, but Satan will take your dollars any day. He wants your soul. The more the merrier for him. God is the ruler of the universe. He has the last say-so, and he punishes.

The people that murdered Emmett Till suffered before they left this Earth. You may fool the judges and jury, but you can’t fool God.

Florida is a mecca for sin, in my opinion. I was raised on a very large farm in northern Florida. My husband and I left in 1962 to never return. Our children were raised in the best western city in the world. No bad policemen, no bad schools, no bad teachers and no bullies in school. The snakes have taken over Florida, if that tells you something. I still have a lot of family there, but will never live there.

Florida is overdue for tornadoes and hurricanes. Killings are a very bad thing in God’s eyesight.

JULIA RANDLE

Jacksonville

Fairness and balance

In the course of a month, I’ve been told by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial staff to vote for Mitt Romney, via an editorial. Then a lot of Arkansans were called “Bubba” by John Brummett if they happened to differ on a social view of Barack Obama’s.

I’ve often wondered if, before deciding on endorsing any candidate, the powers on high such as Paul Greenberg wander down to the printing press, the ad department, or even talk to the guys that actually deliver my paper to me to ask their opinion. How often does Brummett luncheon in the lower dregs of the building? At least he puts his name behind his sentiments. Yet one wonders if the czars break bread with the commoners at the paper.

The media can make or break a candidate, and I would only ask that the paper be as fair and balanced as it normally is, and not endorse one without the tacit consent of all persons in its employ.

I hope the lucidity of my letter proves in Brummett’s mind that I’m not a “Bubba.”

Only one person has told the truth from day one: Ron Paul.

ANTHONY LLOYD

Hot Springs