Selectively offended
I suppose, as a military retiree with over 24 years of active service in the U.S. Army, I should have been offended by the president returning a salute to his Marine guard with a cup of coffee in his hand.
However, I wasn't because I have seen it before, only this time the other president was holding a dog. It seems like some people are very selective about what is offensive and what isn't; holding a dog and saluting is OK, but a cup of coffee is not.
Let me tell all of you, in the 24 years I spent in the Army, I served with soldiers that were trained on the proper method of rendering the salute, and the majority of them got it wrong every time. Of course this president will never please most of you, no matter what he does.
HARRISON E. COX
Marion
Descent into silliness
Seems to me that all the fuss about Barack Obama's coffee-cup salute is silly. I was taught in Navy boot camp that if you see something and it moves, salute it. If it does not move, paint it.
A salute is no more than a show of respect for a senior officer's rank or an item like the American flag or the national anthem. The return salute is no more than an acknowledgment of the salute. The salute or acknowledgement of it is not necessary if the hands are full. Mr. Obama's raising of his coffee cup was acknowledgement of the Marines' salutes.
'Nuff said!
JOHN VOWELL
Little Rock
Protect pedestrians
As a recent runner in the community of Conway I have noticed one minor issue. No, it is not the lack of sidewalks, but instead, it is the lighting system.
Being a college student and working part-time, the only convenient occasion to get a run in is during the evening. While at Salem Park Trails, I have noticed the dim lights that are in the park. Since the lights are there for safety and guidance, it would only make sense to ensure that the parks department (or whoever is in charge) is fulfilling this purpose.
Another issue is the lights in the neighborhoods. On September 10, one of our lights was out, leaving one light for one side of our street that makes a circle. This can be very dangerous if someone were to be running, walking, or casually being outside and a car did not see the citizen in time.
There were over 4,000 pedestrian deaths in the year 2011, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I know Conway makes everyone feel at home, and the last thing we would want is for somebody to be severely injured or dead because of poor lighting maintenance.
HALEIGH MORIAH CLARK
Conway
Meh, just handle it ...
As the world community gears up to crush and destroy the brutal killers of Islamic State, it is a shame to see our worthless Congress being in recess and not even taking a vote to bomb these fanatics. Instead, they've basically told President Barack Obama to just handle it.
I guess they feel themselves too important to be bothered by such matters.
Last week, the British parliament in London gave Prime Minister David Cameron an overwhelming vote of support in a campaign to destroy the Islamic State. In Washington, we hear nothing but silence mixed with meaningless partisanship.
Our message should be clear to Congress: As our friends the Brits would say, get on with it!
RICHARD MOORE
Camden
Raises the question
John Brummett wrapped his Sunday column with this: Labor unions are trying to elect Democrats and using hopes for a raised minimum wage to do it.
Jack Stephens and his wealthy allies are trying to elect extreme conservatives like Tom Cotton and don't support a raised minimum wage.
This is my wrap-up: It's impossible for me to understand why the rich spend so much money to keep workers from getting a raise, even a little raise. Many of the workers who are asking for a raise have helped the rich get rich. Why not do a little sharing?
WILLIAM C. KRAMER
North Little Rock
Where his loyalty lies
I agree that this election season has become tiresome and nasty. But the easiest way to turn off the noise and get to the truth is simply to check out, for yourself, the voting records, unedited speeches, loyalties and money streams of the candidates. For this reason, I have scratched Tom Cotton off my list of rational choices. As a senior citizen I have a genuine fear of voucher-driven Medicare and privatized Social Security--two things Mr. Cotton favors.
A few years ago, at a bipartisan event, someone asked Gov. Mike Beebe to talk about the most important asset Arkansas had to offer in bringing new businesses and jobs to the state. Without missing a beat, he said "The people of Arkansas." He praised us for our independent spirit. This year, more than ever before, I hope he is right. The last thing we need is the strong, unwieldy hand of powerful outside corporate puppet-masters with their big bucks and self-serving agenda. Mr. Cotton's voting record has shown a blatant favoritism for his super-deep-pocketed friends headed by the Koch brothers. Both parties court fat wallets, true, but this election season the Kochs have outdone all the other players.
We'll know we've played into their hands when they change our state's road signs to: "Welcome to Koch-ansas: Where men are men, women are irrelevant, voters can be bought, and your fate is ours to control."
When I was 17 I volunteered for the Navy for World War II. When Korea came I volunteered for the Army, at which time I had a wife and two kids. I do not feel that this in any way qualifies me to be a U.S. senator. However, I am good at taking orders, so guess I could be Republican. All I would have to do is find out from the Koch brothers how to vote.
JAMES FARLEY
Siloam Springs
Leading from behind
The European team has just recently won the biannual Ryder Cup golf tournament, beating the United States team for the third time in a row, once again securing the gold trophy for Europe.
These impressive results should make President Barack Obama extremely proud, since it serves as a superb example of the U.S. leading from behind!
JAMES H. BARRÉ
Little Rock
Prime example seen
Webster's Dictionary defines the word oxymoron as a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness). I think Sunday's Voices page provided an even better example when John Brummett's name appeared directly below the words "In the interest of fairness."
JAMES E. HATHAWAY JR.
Little Rock
Not exactly outdoorsy
Re an outdoor Q&A of gubernatorial candidates: So here is my projected takeaway in Q&A form.
Question: Can you put out and run a trotline?
Mike Ross: "No."
Asa Hutchinson: "What's a trot-line?"
ROBERT L. HUDSON
Mountain Home
Editorial on 10/02/2014