Comments demeaned
As an Arkansas native and longtime subscriber to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, I was shocked at Wally Hall's recent sports column. I normally do not read his column, but the title about Bruce Jenner caught my eye. Once I started reading the column, it became evident that this was not the place for Mr. Hall to voice his personal viewpoints.
His comments about the recent ABC interview with Bruce Jenner were demeaning. It was obvious to me that Mr. Hall has no understanding of the problems facing those who feel trapped in the wrong body. From the suicide rate, to violence, to discrimination of those in the transgender community, his comments lend discrimination. As a great athlete, Mr. Jenner was troubled throughout his life with identity, but he finally overcame all the turmoil he has faced.
Before Mr. Hall writes another column like he did about Mr. Jenner, I hope he does more soul-searching and educates himself about a very difficult subject. We can all learn from Mr. Jenner and his experience.
RICKEY MEDLOCK
Little Rock
Inaccurate imagining
Re the letter from Jake Tidmore: It was a nice touch that his girlfriend added to the drama. However, I think that's not exactly an accurate representation of Jesus spending time in the company of sinners. He would spend time with them because he desired that all would turn from their sin--sinners and religious hypocrites alike. He did not spend time with them to condone their sin or to help them continue in their sinning ways. When asked why he spent time with tax collectors and sinners, his reply was, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick ... For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
When addressing the Pharisees (probably the religious bigots the girlfriend referred to), Jesus did say that the sinners were more apt to repent because they knew they were sinners. But that just means that the Pharisees were not willing to see and admit their sins. That is as much a part of their bigotry as their self-righteousness. We all are guilty of that at times, but the key is to change and make Jesus the lord of our lives. You see, he was not kind on that point with anyone--he stated that anyone who did not repent would perish.
Would Jesus help with Jake's wedding? I doubt it.
DWIGHT SOUTHERLAND
Conway
It's not even an issue
Jake Tidmore is dreaming indeed if he thinks any Christian-owned business would refuse to provide their services because sinners were attending the wedding of one man and one woman. I know of no one objecting to providing wedding cakes, flowers, or photography for weddings unless they are just overbooked.
The Christian objection would be to providing services for two people of the same sex being joined in holy matrimony. Don't lose any more sleep over something that isn't even an issue, Jake.
SERENA GARNER
Perryville
For kids, grandkids
Iran made a fool out of Jimmy Carter. It seems it is making a bigger fool out of President Barack Obama. I believe Tom Cotton and the other senators who signed that letter to Iran are trying to keep their kids and grandkids from living under Sharia law. Enough said.
CLARENCE ROBERTS
Bauxite
Scandals and security
Tuesday's Voices page was especially interesting, as letters from John Roach, Les Bledsoe and Michael Sanders mirrored many of my sentiments. The other two letters left me scratching my bald head. Even John Brummett hinted at a basic mistrust of the Clintons.
If the Clinton scandals, the latest of which could eventually affect national security, don't awaken the masses, then we are in deep "you know what." Even Barack Obama said if someone is hiding something, then they must have something to hide. Simplistic? Yes, but consider the source. It's been theorized that the basic driving forces in humans are money, sex, and power, not necessarily in that order. Generally, a person is identified with one. The Clintons embody all three. My opinion, only.
On another subject: Article 2, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives the executive branch the power to negotiate treaties, but only with the explicit advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. This clause was carefully worded by the framers to provide a balance of power. The Senate not only has the right but the responsibility to be involved in the Iran negotiations. Article 1, Section 8 gives Congress the power to regulate commerce. Therefore, I believe Obama lacks the authority to lift sanctions on Iran. To do so unilaterally would be a blatant abuse of power. Iran has done absolutely nothing to warrant our trust. Removing sanctions will only enable Iran to acquire any needed technology and support for its eventual and inevitable goal. We will then have to admit that we have been sucker-punched.
I'm sure Russia now feels enabled due to our show of weakness and is to deliver a sophisticated missile-delivery system to Iran. This is but a precursor of things to come.
Deus existe nobis!
HOWARD D. HUGHES
Maumelle
Save the world's trees
We think that people do many unreasonable things--for example, littering and cutting down too many trees.
"I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. And I am asking you, sir, at the top of my lungs."--Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
We think that people don't realize that if we run out of trees, we wouldn't have paper or fresh air. Each year, over 4 billion trees are cut down and turned into paper. The U.S. uses 69 million tons of paper and paperboard each year--we think that we could live with a few million less. Trees are very important things; imagine a world with no trees in it.
Another big problem is littering; people just throw out their garbage, thinking someone else will pick it up. But no, who wants to pick up someone else's garbage? No one wants to do that. Over 51 billion pieces of litter are on roadways in the U.S., at least that's picked up. There is probably way more than that because no one can pick up all the pieces of litter in the world. We hope that people start thinking about what they do before they do it.
We think that people should pay more attention to these things, because if we don't make a move soon, our world could become a dirty trash dump with no more trees! It's so sad that our children's children's children may have to go through this.
People should be more aware of what they do to our world.
CAROLINE RUDISILL
and JAMESON KACHEL
Fayetteville
Editorial on 04/30/2015