Our nation's downfall
There is an old saying that goes, "All I need to know I read in the funny papers."
I think all one has to do is read the Michael Ramirez editorial cartoons in the Democrat-Gazette to see the sad, laughingstock nation we've become under Barack Hussein Obama. From the inhumane and disgusting way our veterans are treated, unenforced immigration laws that allow murderers to kill at will, homosexual laws, the blinders put on when it comes to protecting terrorists, the Iran deal, Benghazi, the blame put on police for doing their job and the lack of support for them, and now all this flap over a flag.
Wow! Just make the Ramirez cartoons a must-read and you'll learn all you need to know about the state of our great country and the downfall it has taken under the incompetence and arrogance of Barack Hussein Obama. God bless us all.
JUNIOR PENNEY
De Queen
Get on with getting on
I was reading the paper and there was a letter from someone in Rogers who was upset at the bullying, in of all things, the Beetle Bailey comic strip, and that it should be removed because bullying is wrong and it sends the wrong message that bullying is funny.
I say, oh my God, get a life. What is wrong with you?
The comic strip started in 1950 as a college-aged Beetle Bailey, then in 1952 the writer, Mort Walker, decided to have Beetle join the Army because of the Korean War. Camp Swampy is modeled after Camp Crowder near Neosho, Mo., where Mr. Walker was stationed. The Beetle Bailey comic has been running for 65 years and Beetle and Sarge have been together for 63 years.
The writer from Rogers said he had served and remembers the NCOs lamenting on how it used to be when they could beat a private. I also served, from August 1985 till October 1992. I remember a line on the floor in front of the drill sergeant's desk, and that line was there for my protection; as long as I was behind that line the drill sergeant couldn't reach me from behind his desk.
Now if we start banning stuff because it is bullying, let's start with the Democrat-Gazette, as it seems it has bullied its way to be the only statewide daily newspaper in Arkansas. Then let's go after rap music and country music and rock 'n' roll music because they all bully in one way or another. Let's get rid of Wal-Mart because it bullies small businesses out of business. And let's get rid of government because it bullies people out of their property through eminent domain.
Or better yet, let's just stop waking up and asking ourselves "what am I offended by today?" So in an old Army term, "ruck up and get over it." Or as I said earlier, get a life!
MARVIN BAIR
Rogers
Must work together
Someone else has died due to a fatal act. This young lady was a daughter of my friend of many years. Why?
Someone please tell me why we can't get along in this world. Are our problems so big we go and hurt or kill someone?
Please take God back into your hearts and homes. Too many have died. Stop now before it's too late.
We are to love one another as God loves us. We must work and pray together for all this hate to stop, and keep on after to pray and work together.
To my friend, I say that her daughter will be missed. She is resting in God's arms of love.
JEANNIE SMITH
North Little Rock
Serving takes smarts
I support Rhonda Lynn's take on Nita McKelvey's comment about food-service careers. I'm retired from the food industry in which I worked all my life. I started out serving tables and fell in love with the business because of the variety of people I met and got to know from all walks of life, all there for the same reason: They were hungry and wanted good food and good service in a friendly, professional manner. From that point on, it was my only profession.
Yes, I said profession. It was more than just a job, it allowed me to work nights so I had no child-care cost. The hours were flexible, which allowed me to be home with a sick child, etc. It afforded me the opportunity to care for my five children after a divorce without public help. I worked for a chain restaurant, eventually became a district trainer and then a corporate trainer. All of this because I was "just a waitress."
I heard that term too many times from people who looked down their noses at this profession, thinking it takes no skill or smarts to do this job. Hogwash. You have to have a good memory, be organized, multitask on a huge level, be able to read people, think quickly, be knowledgeable about foods, and much more. To those of you who think it's a simple job, take note next time you go out to eat of all the things your server does to make you happy, in addition to satisfying dozens of others at the same time. Imagine yourself at a large (up to 20+ people) family meal of which you had to serve each individual separately, see to their every need and desire, gracefully handle complaints, etc., for the full duration of the leisurely meal. It does take skill and it's not learned in school. It takes smarts.
Could McKelvey do it? I don't think so!
ROSANN QUILTY
Little Rock
Respect for the police
For the past year it seems that every week there is a new headline about a policeman killing a civilian. The biggest print points out the white-on-black killings. Since I was never a witness or even present, I can make no judgment on who was right or wrong, but it seems that in each case the deceased refused to obey or ignored the officer's request or directive.
Whether or not the person was committing a crime or was innocent or guilty or whether or not the policeman was in the right, the deceased would probably be alive if he had respected the command of the policeman.
I was taught, and I taught mine--respect the police, and if you dispute, do it later, not in the street.
GEORGE HALL
Newport
All just part of an act
Disingenuous, adjective: not candid or sincere, dishonest, untruthful, false, deceitful, duplicitous, lying, mendacious, hypocritical; "that innocent, teary-eyed look is just part of a disingenuous act."
The lifelong quest for power, running and running and running for that which was elusive in 2008 and only now is her historic quest to be revealed in November 2016. Can you trust her at 2 o'clock with her finger on the nuclear trigger?
I don't. You decide!
LOUIS BURNETT
Little Rock
Editorial on 08/03/2015