Insanity just across border
It is obvious to me from Mr. Bradley Gitz's column that becoming a Ph.D. makes you neither compassionate nor intelligent.
The rationale he uses to explain why police officers are killing unarmed citizens sounds like the same one used by those who disparaged his ancestors. It offers nothing but a weak explanation to identify disdain of a particular unprotected people.
To say that black men are the cause of their own murder by primarily Caucasian police officers is like blaming ducks for their death because they are succulent when cooked with butter and spices. The statement borders on insanity! Some people like to hunt and eat their kill, properly prepared; the duck does nothing to encourage it other than being present. Apparently in the inner-city law enforcement ranks, the mantra is shoot to kill, then investigate.
Everyone in this country expects to be treated with respect and dignity. Here yet we have more public servants who apparently fail to understand their job duties. Police officers are supposed to enforce the laws, not break the laws themselves. They are to protect and serve in their community. Killing an unarmed person tells me that the police officers are poorly trained, insane or are fledgling serial killers. They should have the ability to control a situation, using some force if necessary, without injury and/or loss of life--theirs or a citizen.
Let's start the correction process by first examining the minds of officers in whose hands we place responsibility without knowing their own mental stability.
WILLIAM DAVID WYNN
Little Rock
Consider all positions
A letter from a gentleman in Berryville criticizing Gene Lyons as a hack spewing his liberal ideology is a prime example of one person’s bias refusing to acknowledge that the conservative political position is not exclusive to educated people.
I do not find Mr. Lyons’ columns extremely objectionable or of no political value. An educated person should be willing to consider all alternate political theories and ideas. To arbitrarily denounce one person’s political position as lacking reason, fact or logic, without offering specific reasons, demonstrates an intolerant and extremely biased attitude.
If this country is in trouble, it might well be because one group would suppress the ideas of a group with differing ideology. Each group has an ideology, even if it is not acknowledged. I suggest that a free republic is one in which differing ideas are open for consideration. Then educated judgments can be formed.
And which paper is the gentleman patronizing or not patronizing? Did editing of the letter create confusion between the first and last sentences, or was it sent to the wrong paper?
ED ROGERS
Little Rock
Bridge to avert aging
Pat Ferry’s letter last Saturday morning contains some good points, in my opinion, especially the second point about the TV schedule, for those who use it.
I must take exception to the fourth point. There are still several of us old relics who play bridge and who look forward to pitting our skills against the experts in the hands you print in the paper each day. According to research I read, bridge-playing is one of the best ways to ward off dementia and the “Awful A,” so perhaps it is time for us to bring back this game “gone to the past.” While we are at it, how about bringing back some of the music from that time as well? But that’s another letter!
By the way, so glad to read/write about nonpolitical topics!
WILMA TROUT
Star City
Not all in their heads
Doctors, take note: Mental health patients have physical ailments too.
I finally got the results from my MRI. I have a tear in my left shoulder. Only took four months and numerous appointments to diagnose this one. This is after I was told the pain I was feeling was in my head because of my bipolar disorder.
This is not the first time a physical ailment of mine has been attributed to my mental illness. A few years back I injured my left knee. My doctor at first attributed my pain to my mental illness. I had to demand an MRI. It turned out I had torn the muscle under the kneecap.
Six months ago I had an eye exam and was prescribed a new set of lenses. A month later I returned, complaining I had problems keeping my eyes focused. I was referred to a neuro-ophthalmologist. A few weeks later that doctor diagnosed my eye problems with association to my bipolar disorder. He didn’t even look at my eyes. He went off the notes his intern typed up. Unsatisfied with this diagnosis, I went to another eye doctor who didn’t have access to my mental health records. It turned out the original prescription was way off-base. I got a new pair of glasses and I haven’t had a problem since.
It’s hard enough trying to educate the general public on issues relating to mental illness. Physicians who spend the better part of a decade who do get some experience with mental health patients during their medical residencies should be more enlightened.
If you are a doctor in any field and a patient with a mental illness comes into your office, please don’t dismiss their pains and ailments to being “in their heads.”
PATRICK GRAY
Cabot
Don’t fight the police
A recent Stephen Carter column addressed policing the laws of the land. The line about the general voting populace taking responsibility for enforcement of the laws they enact is a 20,000-foot view.
“They,” “them,” “voters,” “legislators” and “the police” are 20,000-foot names.
Here on the ground in the United States, we are all individual human beings. Even the groups known as they, them, voters, legislators, and the police consist of single fallible, emotional, and often, faulty people.
Remember also that fear is ingrained in humans. If I was walking down a sidewalk and someone pointed a gun at me, could I tell if it was a toy? No.
This is not a perfect world and life is not fair. The rest of us humans want to feel safe. Don’t threaten us and think we won’t call other humans with guns to the rescue.
Remind yourself and teach your children that if you are breaking the law or threatening people, you can expect to be confronted. It is not OK to fight the police. Drop like a rock if told to get down. Don’t hesitate or resist and expect another human being to stop and analyze whether or not you are a danger.
Value your rights as a citizen to the protection of the law, but drop your body and guns to the ground and live.
CAROL MOSELEY
Mabelvale
Warriors on the field
I think the solution for the Washington Redskins is to satisfy the Indian nation by calling themselves the Washington Warriors, which includes many brave ones who die for a cause.
The owners need to do the right thing and change it now!
MIKE WALDORF
Little Rock
Rules of engagement
I hope you know that Arkansas weather is not global weather. Weather is not climate.
There are more than two sides to every question.
Not all Christians believe exactly what you do.
The world is not divided into Democrats and Republicans.
The United States has 6.6 percent of the world’s land mass and 4.43 percent of the world’s population. (We’re not the only fish in the pond.)
If you don’t like network news you can watch PBS’ NewsHour. I think it is a lot more “fair and balanced” than Fox.
Quoting out of context is lying.
Abortion and gay marriage were not major issues in the first 2,000 years of Christianity.
About half of our free-market system consists of shared monopolies (oligopoly).
Not all Muslims are Arabs. Most live in non-Arab countries like Indonesia. Liberals are not socialists, and socialists are not communists.
Insults and picking personalities to demonize are not arguments. The rules of argument go back 2,500 years to the ancient Greeks. There is a psychological trick known as “projection” where you accuse others of doing the exact same things you or your idols have been doing.
The Nazis persecuted socialists and labor leaders. The fact that they used “socialist” in their party name means about as much as the word “Democrat” in the name of this newspaper.
CORALIE KOONCE
Fayetteville
Outrageous behavior
People all over the country are lashing out at Bill Cosby. He’s had shows and speaking engagements canceled and the Navy even revoked an honorary title given to him earlier. With all the outcry from his victims, people are branding him a serial rapist and a sexual predator.
But I don’t recall Bill Clinton being called those names or people outraged by his behavior. Why is that? Clinton had Hollywood and the media on his side. They made fun of him; he was just a womanizer. At a time when many allegations were being made it was cleverly named the “bimbo eruption.” Everyone laughed when the late-night comics mocked, humiliated and made fun of the victims. The victims. And it seems that while digging for all the dirt they could find on these women, the news media marginalized their stories. That’s why Cosby is a monster and Clinton is a highly regarded hero.
As a man, I cannot begin to understand the kind of pain and misery many of these women have endured, and many still live with, because of these men. Pain and misery made worse in both cases because it was allowed to happen over time by countless starstruck people. What must it be like to scream for help … and everyone just laughs?
WILL COHEN
Little Rock