Compassion for them
I was listening to the evening news about the killer in Arizona who had suffered a prolonged death. Then members of the victims' family were interviewed, and essentially said it was nothing compared to the pain this man had put their family through.
When I was old enough to think, perhaps it was in my 30s, I decided I was philosophically opposed to the death penalty. After all, it was inhumane, applied unfairly, and not the mark of a civilized society.
Then I got older, and kept reading story after story about people who inhumanely and cruelly killed others and, when convicted, had little care except not to die for their crimes. I wondered: Do we not in some implicit way have a social contract that says we cannot violate the rights of others without giving up our own rights?
I now think some have given up their rights to be members of our society, and as such, may be killed to protect everyone else. It is not an easy position to take. Yet why should cruel killers be given more compassion than their victims?
LYNN FISHER
Fayetteville
Living like a refugee
I have a great deal of sympathy for the children who are trying to escape the poverty, violence, despair and drug cartels in their country. It seems their situation is a result of ineffective and corrupt leaders who have no idea of how to lead and solve problems and are more concerned about their own power and position and staying in office instead of doing something about the problems that plague their country.
This is no way for the children of Chicago and other large cities to live.
BILL SOSEBEE
North Little Rock
Armory is still of use
I think the city of Little Rock would benefit from not having UAMS raze Ricks Armory.
I have attended many functions at this small yet accessible space with parking. Once a place like this is lost, the city loses another special place for smaller events.
The city has already lost Ray Winder Field. Let's not lose this one.
JEFF McRAE
Little Rock
Offer second chance
There are jobs that are available in several categories and people willing to fill these jobs, but some people have things in their backgrounds that keep them from being hired.
Some of these people have nonviolent issues and I think they could be given a chance if the courts would consider looking into and expunging their records if there have not been any other charges against them for at least the past year or so. They should be informed that there would be some strong punishments if they do not stay out of trouble.
We need to get some effort in the judicial system to let these people know that they are willing to consider their case. We need to get these people back to work and get them off entitlement programs, which would save the government money and hopefully help them get some self-esteem.
JOHN F. HUM JR
North Little Rock
Replace funding first
As said for years by Popeye, "That's all I can stands; I can't stands no more!" Enough with the anti-gambling editorials with the obvious rejoicing tone as if every lottery problem were your personal victory in ending its muddled existence. I've become weary of envisioning Paul Greenberg doing a Snoopy Happy Dance around the editorial offices every time another moral tirade is published.
If you don't approve of gambling, fine, but be not hypocritical and qualify that with, well, except at the race tracks. You rave about lack of funding and/or quality of public education. Where is your proposal to obtain more funding? Question avoided because one might have to say "tax, budget, and spend" to support it properly? You can't do so in newly de-socialized GOP Arkansas?
Sir, I believe you have a Pulitzer awarded for dealing with some contentious unpopular subject--earn it again; lead us on this issue of education funding. The argument about weak-willed poor folk being tempted to misspend monies on tickets smacks of the Carrie Nation argument for prohibition of alcohol sales. After 70-plus years on this earth I've figured out that irresponsible behavior isn't going to be stopped by lack of a specific opportunity. The irresponsible will just spend the money elsewhere.
So please, I pray, some consistency! Argue to do away with all gambling, but present us with a replacement scholarship funding mechanism, or admit that the Natural State says: Naturally y'all are on your own, we don't care; root hog or die.
As for replacing any political largesse received by the legislators for supporting track gambling, how is that not bribery? Dang, there's that Yankee impertinence showing out again after 40 years.
GERALD K. O'BRYAN SR.
Springdale
Deserve our gratitude
I'm not much for correspondence and, in light of recent events, have procrastinated far too long in expressing my gratitude for our VA Health Services, in particular our outstanding VA facilities in Fayetteville.
It's been my good fortune to have been assigned to Primary Care Team 12. Over many years, Dr. Pilcher and his team have consistently provided the kind of health care many civilians can only wish for. Based on my conversations with other vets, this is typical of VA personnel throughout the Fayetteville unit, and I think it's important to speak up for all of them. Regardless of administrative shortcomings at some VA sites, the people on the floor doing the real work deserve our gratitude and recognition.
DAVID L. HUDIBURGH
Garfield
Bad customer service
On July 16 my AT&T e-mail address was hijacked. On July 22, I called the U.S. Postal Service's toll-free number to get an answer to what I thought to be a simple question. Over three days, I was on the phone with AT&T customer service for a cumulative of 7.75 hours. With USPS my time invested was over an hour--most on hold.
It continues to amaze me how these two businesses can have such low ratings of the quality of their customer service and yet apparently have no interest in attempting to improve. Frustrating!
SAM HIGHSMITH
Little Rock
Editorial on 07/29/2014