Judge of free speech
The column "Bias in a billboard" by guest writer Rob Guthrie brings to mind what I believe to be the greatest threat to the U.S., the elimination of free expression. Having to worry, in a nation of 300 million people, if someone feels marginalized or unwelcome because of free speech is lunacy.
To live in society thinking I'll never offend anyone is a fool's game. I'd have to be a hermit. And to expect that no one will ever offend me is stupid. There are varied opinions on a myriad of subjects.
Yet Mr. Guthrie seems to maintain that if a Christian monument makes a single soul offended, it should be banned, setting himself up as the judge of what's free speech and what isn't.
I'm as opposed to as many things as anyone else, but free speech isn't one of them. Maybe if I told Rob what offends me, he'd write a column defending my prejudices so I don't feel marginalized or unwelcome in America. It would make me seem, you know, respected. I think his column was infantile.
STEVE HILL
Bella Vista
Should thank military
The cartoon (so-called) on Friday's editorial page could be every senior officer and enlisted man who ever served in the military. Just because liberal antagonists are active doesn't mean that General David Petraeus did anything that would be unusual in the average military family.
I think the general's antagonists need to get a life and thank the general (and all military veterans) for allowing them the freedom to speak.
BARRETT A. METZLER
Bearden
More on the Clintons
I noticed that the unidentified little old lady in the Buick commercial must be Hillary, since she is updating her blog as Mr. John Brummett mentioned that Hillary had done on a recent trip. John said she was (1) sitting in the passenger seat, and (2) had updated her blog. It is not known if her email server was in the trunk of the Buick. Also, is the Wi-Fi in the Buick encrypted to protect documents?
By the way, how much did former president Bill receive for his words at the Oklahoma City Memorial? The bombing did happen on his watch.
ROBERT JINES
Pea Ridge
While the world burns
On April 19th, 60 Minutes aired a heinous spectacle reminiscent of the Nazi death camps. Google "Syrian sarin gas attack."
The world saw more than 1,400 people, 426 of them children, writhing in agony, trying to breathe as they lay dying. Missiles carrying sarin gas had landed in their Damascus neighborhood while they slept. It's generally believed, and evidence shown by CBS indicated, that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave the order.
President Barack Obama had refused the plea of the Syrian rebels for heavy weapons in their fight to overthrow Assad, who was and still is killing his people by the thousands. In 2012, Obama's "red line" warning against chemical weapons was interpreted to be directed at Assad--but then Obama did nothing, essentially giving a green light to aggressors such as Islamic terrorists and Russia.
It seems Obama has refused help to all the "good guys" who have begged for heavy weapons: the Syrian rebels, Kurds, Israel, Ukraine. It's believed that his refusal to help in Syria allowed savage terrorists to form the Islamic State. Beheading and burning people alive, they marched on into Iraq, where against advice Obama had withdrawn American forces.
The Middle East is aflame; in Africa groups of Christians are beheaded and pitiful African refugees drown trying to reach Europe; young Americans are trying to join those savages; and our delusional president seeks a good-faith agreement with a man steeped in an ancient culture of trickery and deceit.
Where is a leader?
BARBARA FOREMAN
Siloam Springs
Be a Litter Warrior
Thank you, Al Kahler, for being a Litter Warrior (my term) on Lake Norrell. I too am a Litter Warrior and I know there are many more of us out there. There are too many litterers and not enough warriors though.
Most litter, if not picked up, will eventually end up in our oceans. Beginwiththebin.org found that about 51 billion pieces of litter land on U.S. roadways each year. The main culprits are cigarette butts, food wrappers (including Styrofoam), plastic bottles, plastic bags, bottle caps and straws, glass bottles, cans, and paper bags. Cigarette butts top the list of items littered. Preventcigarettelitter.org says only 10 percent of butts are properly disposed. Because butts are small compared to other types of litter they may seem insignificant to those who toss them, but they are carried off by rain to our rivers and oceans where marine life mistakes them for food.
There are things we as individuals can do to help. The most important is to commit to never litter. Also, commit to picking up at least one piece of litter every day. We can set an example for our children, friends, and co-workers by keeping a litter bag in our car and covering truck beds. Let's stop using plastic grocery bags and only use cloth bags that can be reused. We can cut down on our use of plastic water bottles. Smokers can use portable pocket ashtrays. Join your city's Adopt-A-Street program or the state Adopt-A-Highway program. Finally, let's follow California's lead, and start the discussion on banning plastic bag use by stores in our state.
Let's all become Litter Warriors and make our state, our country, and the world a cleaner place.
PATRICIA PHILLIPS
Little Rock
Can make difference
Instead of plastic water bottles, we should use reusable metal and BPA (Bisphenol A) free bottles. We are polluting our planet. Besides, reusable and metal water bottles hold more water than, for example, Dasani water. BPA is harmful to humans. It releases bad hormones into our bodies, sometimes causing us to be sick.
Use California, for example. It switched from plastic grocery bags to reusable bags.
Help the earth by reusing water bottles. The U.S. alone uses 60 million plastic water bottles each day. Start using reusable water bottles; it will make a difference.
JOHN GRADY HARPER
and JOHN TIERNEY
Fayetteville
Editorial on 04/26/2015