Letters

On race in America

Why does it seem that every conversation about race relations in this nation begins and ends with the descendants of the forced immigrants from Africa? I would like to know how today's voluntary immigrants from Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Haiti and other countries who share an African heritage feel about race and opportunities in our nation.

The next question that I want to ask is what are we doing about race relations with the indigenous people who greeted the Europeans on this shore? First we misnamed them and called them Indians. Then we failed to recognize that there were several ethnic groups among these people. The Seminole of Florida were not the Oglala of the plains or the Navajo of the Southwest. It seems the treaties made with them were only valid as long as they met the needs of the European-Americans.

Finally, let's include in our talks the Asian exclusion laws and the U.S. concentration camps of World War II when we talk about race relations. Maybe if we have an honest and rancor-free discussion, we can move toward the more perfect union that our Constitution calls for.

THOM LAKSO

Russellville

Blame placed rightly

Kudos to Paul Greenberg for his excellent column on the Charleston tragedy! I believe he correctly blamed it on Satan's influence on the young murderer. There is a constant battle for our hearts and minds between good and evil. Satan comes to kill and destroy while Jesus Christ gives life and hope. Satan promotes darkness and hate. Jesus promotes light and love.

And, no, this is not "crazy talk" as a recent critic proclaimed, but is believed by millions around the world.

SUE P. WOOLSEY

Little Rock

Of our truer instincts

Years ago at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, my 10-year-old son gazed incredulously at a stack of bricks in one of the galleries and asked me if that was art. I replied that it was. "Wow!" he exclaimed, to the delight of a nearby observer. "I could be an artist!"

And he could. I cut through all the squabbling about art long ago, when I chose to define it as the creation of any object, painting, drawing or thing that exists only as an aesthetic expression on the part of its maker. Mr. Paul Greenberg's column about the Whitney, "The End of Art," continues the endless and fruitless struggle to separate artists from the rest of us, and to define who is entitled to create art and who is not.

Mr. Greenberg sneers at the Whitney's concept of providing wall space where the public may make their own art. I applaud it. History will decide who is artistically incomparable, but the urge to create what we find beautiful or meaningful is one of man's most intrinsic drives, and it belongs to each of us--it is indeed one of the truest instincts we possess.

Bravo, Whitney. You honor me when I make art; you honor us all.

ANN LINK

Little Rock

Gardens good for soul

Get some seeds and prepare the soil. Water and watch as plants sprout, grow, and bloom. Vegetables suddenly appear, growing by the day. They become ripe for the picking and harvesting soon begins. On a warm July morning, sitting outdoors in the shade, watching plump crowder peas roll out of their hull at my fingertips, I realize the rewards go well beyond the obvious.

In these high-tech times, simple gardening rituals actually tether us in peaceful communion with our ancestors. No wonder practically everything in our garden is called soul food.

ROGER MARSH

Little Rock

Adieu to you and you

Re the Duggars' show cancellation: So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good riddance.

SALLYE MARTIN

Fayetteville

Precious memories

The thunderheads are rolling in from the west, probably going to rain. The sunrise was red this morning. Sailors take warning. We used to have a saying for everything. That's the way we could remember the rivers, towns and countries and we knew where they were, like Memphis and the Mississippi. Memory is precious. It is your "what, when, where and how." When you are old, it's too late to change it. It's written in ink.

The picture looks pretty good. It's not a big fancy portrait, but it's not bad. "I laughed, I cried, I died." Those are not my words, but when I read them. I think, "Ain't that the truth?" Life is short. Take your time.

SYBLE FRITTS

Searcy

His methods do work

One of the best columns in your paper that is worth reading these days is the John Rosemond column regarding raising children.

I am a senior and have watched the deterioration of the family unit in this country since I raised my four children. I know I didn't always do the best job, but I sure tried. Much of the cause of the current problem in our homes and schools with children, in my opinion, is the methods parents (and some teachers) use where they try to be a "friend" and a "buddy" of their child at all times rather than trying to mold them into a responsible adult by being responsible themselves. Responsible to raise a respectful child.

A little discipline is necessary to let them know who is in charge in the home and school. I fear that many so-called adult parents are very intimidated by their "little darlings" to the extent that the child is, in effect, in charge. And then the parents are amazed that their little child has turned out to be a big problem.

Read the Rosemond column regularly and try his methods--you will be amazed at the difference.

JAY SOULE

Bella Vista

Editorial on 07/20/2015

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