LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — That Oklahoma Kid

Many a page of life has turned, many a lesson I have learned in those Oklahoma hills where I was born. An old Bob Wills-sung tune that’s practically an anthem in the state.

Back in those hills, we had a code,a man code. Two of its firm rules were that a man was not asked nor did he attend baby showers or kids’ birthday parties. The men would gather out back,sharpen their knives, whittle or take a dog out to get a squirrel.

A violation of this code has produced a troubling trend in Arkansas. In the past month, I have been invited-urged-to go to a kid’s birthday party at a very large Catholic Church in a rural area named after a country in Europe. Then practically ordered to attend a baby shower at a Baptist Church with a reception hall that holds over a hundred people. A barbecue there was offered as incentive.

The wife and extended family don’t seem to understand that the Oklahoma Kid has been given a code that he must keep, handed down from ancestors whose mountain skills and ways he learned long ago.

I partly blame local lefties like John Brummett and Philip Martin for the indoctrination of Arkansas’ young men. Thus, I appeal to the younger generation not to think of oversize, outsize and bigger is better. What’s next, Barton Coliseum?

Also, the people of Oklahoma will be laughing at you as soon as I send them a clipping of this letter.

DAVID BRYANT

Lonoke

Let’s shift that burden

With the uproar about abortion and its legality, I have to say, I want the pols out of my bedroom, my uterus and my doctor’s office.

Unfortunately, the burden falls on women to make the difficult choices regarding whether to end a pregnancy.

Perhaps we should devise a male chastity belt, since men are unable to keep their pants zipped.

ALISON YAMAUCHI

Little Rock

Choice on pregnancy

I am so glad Michelle Obama is so concerned about obesity. She is an advocate for educating children on the danger of obesity and how not to be obese. She acknowledges that prevention is better than treatment. I am all for that.

What I don’t understand is why wouldn’t she take the same stance on pregnancy/abortion? Why don’t we have a public push by someone like Mrs. Obama, who can get TV coverage, on preventing pregnancy?

What is the difference? We could just do liposuction on fat people instead of trying to get them to keep from getting that way. How about if we cared enough about women to talk about their choice of unprotected sex or not?

I do believe women have the choice about being pregnant-millions make that choice each year to not be pregnant, and it has nothing to do with abortion. They choose to prevent it.

The problem is not abortion-it is women not making the choice not to get pregnant. Don’t let a man make that choice for you women-control your own body.

STAN ROEMER

Fayetteville

All problems solved!

It was quite a relief to awaken today knowing the legislators had solved all of Arkansas’ problems with ample time left to decide if I can strap on a gun before Sunday services and whether I can decide what I can do with my own body.

They must feel gratified to know they had, in such a short time, found remedies for one of the worst education systems in the nation, found sane and well-trained foster parents for children from the confiscation of all the meth houses, formulated a plan for taking care of the poor and ill seniors, and funded the bazillion repairs needed on our roads and bridges.

Now, on second thought, wearing a six-gun would, no doubt, be for men only (white, Anglo-Saxon, of course).

DeLORES WILLIAMS

Little Rock

Certainly worth price

Just when I think that the price increase of the paper is hardly worth it, I read the editorial concerning the Arkansas Lottery scholarship fund and the column “Voice of America” by Paul Greenberg.

Then I realize that those two alone are worth the subscription price. Thanks for remembering Kate Smith and her “God Bless America.”

JUANITA CYR

Heber Springs

Meh-keep it simple

Politics in Arkansas have gotten a lot simpler since Arkansas turned Republican.

There is no longer any use for other parties like Libertarians, Greens or Democrats. Folks can just vote “R” all the way down the ballot at general elections. There may not even be any other parties in Arkansas by 2016 if Democrats do not get enough votes for governor in 2014. Signatures will have to be collected for the Democrats to get on the ballot in 2015. Would that not be weird?

Such simplicity also eliminates the need to try to keep up with political issues. Folks can save time by not reading the news and just letting Republicans take care of all that political stuff.

Also, most political contests will be decided by May of the election cycles. For example, Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor will be replaced by whichever Republican wins the May primary election in 2014. The Republican candidate need only be identified as Republican. Same goes for any constitutional offices up for grabs and legislative contests involving Republican candidates.

Apparently, this Republican simplicity is truly a reflection of the mentality of today’s Arkansas constituency.

GENE MASON

Jacksonville

Honesty still around

Recently, we had a family residence in Little Rock vacated, and listed the house for sale. In preparing the house, we removed some furniture and checked every shelf and drawer for any items we wished to keep. All remaining items were allocated for an estate sale.

In the process of displaying items for the estate sale, a worker found a collection of coins in the laundry room. The worker reported the find to the director of the sale, who then reported the find of coins, worth a few hundred dollars, to me.

Obviously, we did not know the coin collection existed. The estate-sale worker and director could have easily pocketed the coins. For their honesty, I gave them both a monetary reward.

Their real reward will come from God.

DAVID GAYLOR

Eureka Springs