Worth more than him
I found a recent Voices page to be thoroughly enjoyable. I thought Brenda Looper's assessment of true Democrats and Republicans was spot on, and Rex Nelson's offering on retirement havens was interesting and informative. Nor could I agree more with Paul Strack and James M. O'Cain about Wumo's Jesus in near-scuba gear. I must confess it made me COL--chuckle out loud.
I wondered, at the time, would any disparaging letter-writers feel a momentary urge to decapitate or gun down Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler? Would Mr. Al Case shake his head in despair?
Keep Wumo, for I truly believe one ridiculous Wumo picture is worth more than a thousand words from Bradley Gitz. Semper Fi.
BLANE WILHITE
Piggott
On passing judgment
People are so quick to cast an opinion, but can't even analyze the facts and observe before saying how they feel about something. I think justification should be based off what is morally right and an opinion should be kept in the head in a situation where it may only make matters worse by causing even more controversy or confusion.
I recently watched a video where a young lady from Baltimore, Md., fought with a teacher. As I watched the video over and over again, my mind began to wonder who is right and who is wrong in this situation. The video shows that the young 11th-grade female tossed a book at the teacher, and later statements say that after the student was asked to put away her phone during testing, the teenager is seen throwing items and that's where the verbal exchange began. After the student threw a book at the teacher, she charged at the teen, while another student tried to break up the brawl. They were then both released and were actually physical with one another.
I believe the teacher was defending herself. The comments I read about it were disturbing to me because there were individuals saying that the teacher was wrong for her actions and that she should've pulled the "Jesus" card and turned the other cheek.
The job description of a teacher does not say the teacher must endure any physical harm and/or abuse from students.
QUAR'DARRELL STRONG
North Little Rock
Step toward solution
April 22nd is Earth Day.
The original Earth Day began in 1970; it was all about cleaning up our air and water so that we wouldn't be poisoning ourselves. Now it's about cleaning up the carbon pollution in our atmosphere so we can maintain a livable planet for ourselves.
Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that man-made climate change is happening now, with the consequences becoming more dire with time. I believe there can no longer be doubt that it's time for real action on global warming.
I think the best answer is a fee on carbon, with the revenue returned to everyone on an equal basis. This fee would hasten the transition to renewable energy. It's not a tax, so there is no drag on the economy. A fee of $15 a ton of carbon dioxide translates to an extra 15 cents a gallon of gas and a $300 monthly check to each family to pay for the extra costs. Studies show most people would come out ahead.
As a first real step toward a climate solution, that's a real bargain.
TONY POTOCHNIK
Rogers
Don't lose your right
Several years ago there was a move on for a constitutional convention for the purpose of drafting a new constitution for our state.
One of the committees that heard ideas dealt with judges and whether judges should be elected or appointed.
Judge Sam Robinson, who was my idol growing up, and Gerland Patten, who was one of the most highly regarded men as a lawyer and as a person, were to speak before this committee. For some reason I was asked to also speak although I had no business being in the same company as Judge Sam or Mr. Patten.
The three of us were opposed to the appointment of judges. I still am.
Whether our appearance had any effect on the committee, I don't know. The committee decided that election, not appointment, of judges was the proper recommendation.
Now, along come some more of the elite folks whose judgment, they feel, is best for the people. It seems there has always been a small group of the elite who feel their way is the best way, that people in general don't have sense enough to elect those who will judge them in a court of law. Fortunately, those few have not prevailed in the past, and if people will stay abreast of what is going on, they will not prevail in the future.
Don't lose your right to elect who you want as your judges.
ALLAN DISHONGH
Little Rock
We're restoring what?
As I tried to follow the recent brouhaha in Indiana and Arkansas regarding the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), I searched in vain for one thing: What was the religious freedom that had been eradicated and needed restoration?
All I could find were discussions of whether you should bake wedding cakes or pizzas for gay people, but I'm pretty sure that's not a religious value--not a Christian value, at least.
I don't think pizza had been invented in Jesus' time, and I don't know about wedding cakes. I don't think they were mentioned in the New Testament.
I know hatred and persecution are not Christian values, so I am at a loss.
EARL BABBIE
Hot Springs Village
Editorial on 04/22/2015