LETTERS

We cannot excuse slavery

Our Southern heritage is not all about slavery. But I believe the Confederacy and all its flags and symbols are about slavery.

There were other reasons Southerners wanted out of the Union. But slavery was their overriding cause. The much-ballyhooed but nebulously defined Southern Way of Life was built on the backs of slaves before the war, and black and poor white vassals after the war.

Confederate soldiers fought for what they were taught were the noble and Godly institutions of slavery and white supremacy. Many knew better. They justified it as defending their homeland or patriotic duty to their state.

We can justify anything, can't we?

I sympathize because they were taught such things by parents, their church and the leaders of their society at every level. But I don't excuse what they did.

There is no excuse for slavery. There is no excuse for fighting for the "right" to own another person.

Their bravery, patriotism and piety were no more noble than those of today's ISIL warriors. How tragic in both cases.

There is much of our Southern heritage that is good, noble, wholesome and worth honoring and cele-brating.

Let's grieve for the lost souls of those who fought for the cause of slavery. Let's honor them for the good in their lives. Let's learn from their mistakes. Let's honor black Southerners upon whose backs our way of life was built.

But let's not honor or celebrate the evil cause or symbols of the Confederacy.

HOWELL MEDDERS

Fayetteville

Our war on children

It seems the United States continues its war on its children. We have slaughtered millions in the womb, but not satisfied, we continue the war after the birth of a child. We force them into mediocre, noncompetitive schools which will not fit them for the life to come; we fail to give them purpose or goals, and substitute mind-numbing electronics; and now we have attacked marriage, what I believe to be the historically first protection for children, women and property.

To borrow a partial phrase from Abraham Lincoln, we are testing whether any nation so dedicated can long endure.

MARY DYAR

Hot Springs Village

No symbol of courage

Bruce Jenner has become Caitlyn. OK, that's his right.

ESPN is presenting him/her with an award for courage. To me that is an insult to the truly courageous men who risked their lives and fortunes to sign the Declaration of Independence. It is an insult to the men and women of our military who face death daily as they fight in far-off lands to preserve our freedom.

It is an insult to the policemen, firemen, EMTs and civilians who entered the World Trade Center on 9/11 to try and save the lives of those caught in the buildings. It is an insult to the policemen and women who risk their lives every day trying to keep peace in both urban and rural areas of our beloved land.

Bruce Jenner had a right to do what he felt was best for him. However, for ESPN to award him for an act of courage to me is nothing more than pandering to a small but vocal minority.

Next time you see a member of the military, a policeman, fireman or EMT, thank them for devotion to the job and for their courage.

CHUCK MILLER

Hot Springs Village

No special treatment

As an 89-year-old World War II veteran, I write in disagreement with the idea that veterans of any war deserve preferential treatment in their business endeavors.

Law already gives special treatment to those injured or disabled in war by means of payments to compensate for their inability to function as a result of their injuries. Veterans already have free open access to hospital/health care. Also, we already grant veterans special status in government hiring.

Rather than keep government as a referee between citizens, are we going to remove the element of competition and tilt the game toward those who have worn the uniform during some necessary periods? That should not happen!

Re the state's new marketing tool for service members: This apparently is a joint effort by the state Veterans Affairs and the state Agriculture Department to provide a special marking for products produced by veterans. Veterans are not the only ones who farm, so why should Arkansas be promoting their produce over all other honest, hardworking farmers?

There is something basically unfair about government acting in such a way as to aid in the sale of veteran-produced products. Veterans are veterans because our country needed defending and circumstances thrust us into events over which many of us had little control.

This may be politically popular with some, but this should not become a function of government.

MARION HICKINGBOTTOM

Searcy

Ignoring the creator

Religion is a great unifier or divider of people.

I believe gay marriage, transgenders, values and the changing of the definition of marriage aren't about equal rights, equality or marriage equality; it has always been and always will be about removing God from his position and attempting to replace him with mankind's knowledge and wisdom. Worshiping the created and ignoring the creator leads only to destruction in the end, and we'll soon understand what Saint Paul meant when he wrote, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

CLAYTON ADAMS

Earle

Who is in control here

Someone asked me if God could have stopped Satan from going into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and murdering nine of God's children. I said, "yes."

God does allow Satan to walk this earth. This time he picked a Bible study class. He even sat for an hour at the time, hating God and God's people. Satan lives on trouble and hatred.

When I prayed for the nine Christians, God sent me to Matthew where Satan tried to tempt Jesus. Next, he sent me to Job where Satan tried his best to turn Job against God. Satan's job is to make sure the hatred keeps moving. It might be skin color, raping kids, guns, flags or killing anything to keep the trouble rolling when he is in hell counting his people.

I couldn't care less about your Confederate flag. Wave it in God's wind if it makes you feel better. I am thankful I do not worship material things and do not worship dead folks.

The Bible says, "Say ye not, a confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, a confederacy neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid."

Man needs to stop thinking he can do his underhanded dirt and march in heaven when he dies. It just does not work that way. God is in control, not man.

JULIA RANDLE

Jacksonville

For higher pay, train

I find it almost impossible that people who have some intelligence cannot understand the difference between a minimum wage and a living wage. I hear the argument that poor people can't live on what they make at fast-food restaurants or some retail stores, and wonder if those who say that ever consider that such jobs not being meant to be a person's sole livelihood. They are jobs for part-timers, kids starting out in the world of work, or seniors supplementing their Social Security checks.

If receiving a minimum wage is the best one can do, it is time to return to school, get training in a field that will pay not a minimum, but a living wage. They should learn how to speak English, write a resume and dress for interviews. Then maybe they can earn a working wage. If they can't make these improvements, how about doing manual-labor jobs? Sure, maybe that can mean working outside in the elements, getting one's hands dirty and bending over, but it is better than many other choices.

It is time we get over this nonsense about raising the lowest wage to $15 an hour or whatever. If we don't, we will soon see the $15 jobs taken over by robots and machines. Why should a company pay a bunch of unskilled individuals to take orders if a customer can walk into a restaurant, key their order into a machine, and have it delivered in a few minutes without paying someone with no genuine skills?

Think about it--visit countries with a higher minimum wage, check prices for nothing more than a sandwich, and be thankful we are not paying half again as much for that sandwich.

NITA McKELVEY

Bella Vista

South attacked again

A symbol of honor, not hatred--the rebel, i.e., battle flag, apparently has become nothing more than a weapon for the white liberals (Democrats and Republicans) to demonize Southern folks and further their agenda to create their own version of history and to distort and destroy our way of life.

This precious flag did not fly over slave quarters, but was carried into battle. I believe true Southerners (born, raised in the South) honor and cherish it for what it really symbolizes--the heroism of those who fought and died defending states' rights. Sadly, there is a real lack of courage to speak the truth today ... shame on us.

Real racism does not come from flags. The battle flag did not kill in Charleston, but a young man whose heart was filled with hate and anger. Removing the flag will not change anyone's heart or deliver justice; only God can.

It is important that we understand that taking the battle flag down will not satisfy the white liberals, nor the blacks who have a hidden agenda. Compromise only opens the door to more loss of liberty for the target group, you know, those Southern folks.

We do not fly this flag because we hate black people, but to honor our soldiers, our heritage. Since the American flag was carried into battle by the North, does it too symbolize hate? Should we change it, take it down?

Make no mistake, the South is under attack.

SHARON HATCHER

North Little Rock

Feedback

State of confusion

At this point, I am a very confused old man.

I spent my prime years serving my country in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service. I then came home and worked for the safety of all employees. Now I am enjoying daily rest and relaxation.

Why am I confused? I thought that part of my protection was aimed at Iran. So now, John Kerry, in the name of Barack Obama, agrees to a nuclear pact with Iran. What did I fight for? To be blown to bits by my own administration, not elected by me, but re-elected by voters?

Something is very wrong in this country.

BARRETT A. METZLER

Bearden

Someone has to ...

After the Legislature approved a Ten Commandments memorial at the state Capitol, the Hindus and Satanists demanded their own religious exhibits.

I suggest keeping the Ten Commandments, allowing exhibits from the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Native American religions, and placing the Satanist statue so that His Satanic Majesty is looking directly at the Capitol, keeping an eye on the legislators.

MICHAEL KLOSSNER

Little Rock

Editorial on 07/16/2015

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