Perform it properly
As the old saying goes, "If you didn't go, you don't know."
The hand salute is to show acknowledgment and respect in both directions, regardless of rank, staff sergeant or commander in chief. The salute should be performed correctly. The example shown in the photo would be grounds for a letter of reprimand.
I don't think the editorial staff of this newspaper is afflicted by "Obama derangement syndrome," as another reader stated. I believe this type of "salute" would be offensive to any service member or veteran.
JOHNNY DILL
Hot Springs
Conservative outrage
It seems that conservatives will be outraged at anything President Barack Obama does--taking too many vacations, going back on vacation after the execution of an American journalist, wearing the wrong color suit, giving a sloppy salute, or you name it.
They must have worn blinders during the Bush administration when they should have been even more outraged. Including his recent vacation, Obama's total is about 150 days. Bush, who liked to call himself a "war president," according to several sources took, by this point in his presidency, 879 vacation days, about 30 percent of his time in office.
All this vacation during the time our men and women were engaged in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but no conservative outrage.
Conservatives also seem to have forgotten that two Americans were executed in the same manner as James Foley and Steven Sotloff during the Bush administration. No strategy for retaliation from Bush, but again no outrage from conservatives. After an Israeli bus was attacked by terrorists, with the loss of about 20 lives in 2002, Bush was reached on the golf course and asked about the attack. After a one-sentence response, he said, "Now watch this drive."
Outrageous? Apparently not.
To conservatives, starting wars that take the lives of over 4,500 Americans and creating an atmosphere for the growth of terrorist groups apparently is not outrageous. However, having a president who likes to look for alternatives to war before going blindly forward is.
Outrageous? Yes.
KENNETH ROGER WEBER
Prairie Grove
Politics and principles
For once I agree with the reliably conservative views of your editorial staff.
Tom Cotton did stick with principles in his "lonely" votes in the House. Trouble is, it seems they are the principles of the Koch brothers.
Cotton wouldn't even abandon the Kochs for one weekend--he chose to hobnob with his billionaire donors at a posh resort in California instead of making an appearance at the Bradley County Pink Tomato Festival, an iconic event in Arkansas.
Not only was the festival held in the state he seeks to represent, it is in the district he currently represents.
For the record, Sen. Mark Pryor did attend and, as is his wont, was seen shamelessly currying favor with his Arkansas constituents. How unprincipled!
RHETA FAIR
Bella Vista
Sincere condolences
My heart goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Stratman. It is truly a heart-rending moment to find your "little girl" in the manner in which she was found. For an animal lover to find this form of death to one of the best-loved pets is horrendous.
God bless you!
DONNA BUNTING GREEN
West Memphis
Usurpation of power
Bradley Gitz's column, "Do ends justify means?" is excellent and points out what I believe to be one of the most potent threats to our form of government: the usurpation, by the president, of powers the Constitution has given only to Congress.
Let's assume Congress passes a statute that every U.S. citizen who reaches the age of 60 is entitled to a pension of $100 per month, but does not say how citizenship is to be determined nor what evidence may be used to show age. This may properly be done by the issuance of a regulation by the executive branch in the name of the involved department.
It will be seen that a regulation is used to carry out matters properly within the powers given to the executive branch of government. It may not be used to change definite matters which Congress has set out. Thus, a regulation could not legally be used in this instance to change the age requirement to, say, age 58. But that is, I believe, what the president is doing: changing provisions enacted by Congress under the power given only to it.
Executive orders are more challenging and indefinite. Properly, they should be used by the president only to use or clarify his powers, not to usurp Congress' powers because he doesn't like its actions (or inactions).
This isn't as simple as it may sound. During World War II, the president used an executive order to move Japanese Americans into designated camps. The propriety of this action is still being debated.
Regulations and executive orders are subject to judicial review. Concerned citizens and groups should be taking legal action to see that that is done, since I believe there is no doubt that some actions taken by the president clearly usurp powers given only to Congress.
KEN FORRESTER
Maumelle
Importance of salute
I had to respond to Mr. Marck Beggs' letter telling us he was ending his subscription to your paper because of an editorial about the president's ability to salute.
If you are unable to comprehend why the commander in chief should at least be able to properly salute his troops, then I am surprised you can even read the newspaper. As the daughter of a now-deceased Army colonel, daughter-in-law of a career Army sergeant who received three purple hearts, and the wife of a retired Air Force veteran of two wars, it hits just a little too close to home.
How dare you think that the very man who makes the decisions to send our men and woman into war and into areas where they give their lives doesn't need to take the time to learn to salute properly? How pompous and snobby can a president get? Anyone can be taught to salute correctly. I would think with all his fancy Columbia and Harvard education he could be too, but, and here comes the key, it appears he does not care to learn or he would do so, and by not learning it shows just exactly how little he respects our military unless he needs them to do his bidding.
We got rid of being ruled by a king in 1776 and we need to remember that and make sure we teach it in our schools. It is important, then and now.
LEGINA BOSWELL
North Little Rock
Editorial on 09/15/2014