Judging right, wrong
I read Paul Greenberg's heartfelt tribute to his friend and do not want to minimize it by commenting on an item in the letter. His dad says, "There's always a right and wrong. You just have to find out what it is."
As a writer, please remember, it is your opinion of right and wrong. We all choose a side of an issue to defend, but without actions so morally contemptible as to have total consensus, it is still an opinion. Societal standards have grown so far apart as to encompass support for items of which there should be no doubt of the judgment, but will not be strictly defined as right or wrong.
Just my opinion; I could be wrong.
MIKE TEUTSCH
Magnolia
Scattered thoughts
Your editorial in the December 17th paper titled "What's the big deal?" would have been more appropriately titled, "What's the point?" In the editorial you seem to be: against Alberto Gonzalez and Dick Cheney, a safe opinion in today's political climate; against the partisan Democratic Senate report on torture; and against torture.
Then you allow that in certain extreme situations some extraordinary measures might be justified to extract critical information. However, in those cases you appear to opine that it should be left to the individual judgment of some CIA officer without any official guidelines, sanctions, or official backing of the government and that the officer would be solely responsible and bear any consequences, good or bad, that would come later.
Brilliant! What could possibly go wrong?
You end the editorial with the deep philosophical observation, "torture is torture is torture." I suppose that if given the choice of your genitals in a vise-grip versus waterboarding, you would reply, "whatever, six of one, half-dozen of another."
Come on, folks, if you're going to write an editorial, do us a favor and at least think.
RANDY JOHNSON
Alexander
Zealots damage party
As I read John Brummett's commentary about his interview of Gov. Mike Beebe, I became more and more nauseatingly infuriated.
I believe Brummett and his ilk are at the core of what has gone so horribly wrong with my beloved Democratic Party. Brummett had the obviously unqualified audacity to, I believe, ridicule Beebe for not supporting homosexual "marriage."
The principles that would not allow Beebe to support same-sex "marriage," a concept which in my opinion constitutes a rip in the moral fabric of humanity, are the very principles that made him such an outstanding representative of the will of his people in whatever political position he was elected to serve.
I would wager that Beebe would agree that our beloved party has been overtaken by an extremely small percentage of very active zealots like Brummett, whose sole ambition I believe seems to be to promote the homosexual agenda above all else, and to promote what could essentially be called drive-by abortion.
Until the moderate Democrats who probably make up the majority of Arkansas' electorate rise up, throw out the extremists, and regain control of our party, I think we will never again be able to elect a dogcatcher in Arkansas.
AUSTIN STEWART
Judsonia
Who's bad guy now?
I have been in a spiritual quandary lately, and I am in dire need of guidance, especially where it comes to my enjoyment of films.
I have been raised from birth to despise bullies and those who achieve some sort of pleasure through the torture of their fellow human beings. As soon as a swastika-wearing thug appears on screen, or a Central American torturer approaches a political prisoner, my hackles begin to rise.
Though the men who torture for the state in these films may claim to be protecting the country they serve, and and are even driven by an extreme--though sick--form of "patriotism," the ways they have to "make people talk" are horrific, and as an avid film lover I have always looked forward to the torturers and those they serve getting what is coming to them in the end.
But with the revelations that what Americans--long the good guys, the guys in the white hats--have gleefully engaged in practices that might even give the villains in a film pause for thought, I just don't know who to root for anymore.
After all, the average Gestapo agent, the Central American torturer, the officials who give the orders and the men who run the dark prisons in films, are they now just men who engage in "enhanced interrogation" and go home at night to families who love them? Should I feel sorry for them when the prison walls are breached and they are seized by those who, instead of arresting them, should just give them a hug instead?
It's a strange, strange world we live in ...
RICHARD S. DRAKE
Fayetteville
On needing validation
In a recent paper, Julie Hardee expressed her disappointment in Gov. Mike Beebe's refusal to take up Mr. John Brummett's invitation to show support for equal marriage rights. In her words, "even though, sadly, he personally does not support it."
Why sadly and why would he have been smart to state that the law is on the side of the gay community? Why did Julie feel she needed this validation from the governor?
Last time I checked, we all have the right to our opinions and beliefs. I admire everyone that stands up for what they believe in whether it's what I believe in or not. I, for one, am tired of others trying to shove their opinions down my throat. I am twice Julie's age, and grew up in a time when people's opinions were respected. Sadly, that doesn't seem to exist anymore.
CATHERINE P. VAN DUINEN
Little Rock
His reform's working
If President Barack Obama has not received the appropriate gratitude or the necessary "thank you" from many, I wanted to personally thank him for the new medical-care reform. I have not been able to pursue a career because of different ailments that affect my performance. I am receiving health care that is changing my life, allowing me to be able to continue a more productive life as a citizen, functioning normally in my community and ensuring wellness in any future employment opportunities..
I do not want to be disabled, I want to live.
Thank you, President Obama.
DEMETRIA MEADOWS
Cabot
Editorial on 12/21/2014