How quickly forgotten
In a recent editorial, you made seemingly snickering reference to Blaze Starr and Gov. Earl Long's relationship.
I guess the pot likker you have consumed all of these years clouded your memory of one Wilbur Mills and Fanne Foxe.
SUE BUNN
Crossett
Cannot change core
Re the recent foolishness of the Supreme Court: For everyone who is upset by the decision, as well as those grinning smugly, I would like to put the issue in perspective. The Bruce Jenner story is an excellent analogy.
First off, all of you who actually believe that a doctor can change a man into a woman just by changing his outward appearance, stop reading now. You're hopelessly stupid and shouldn't even be allowed to vote.
Now, for those still reading, you have the intelligence to know that Bruce Jenner, whatever name he chooses to call himself, is not a woman. He can never be a woman. His sex was determined at his conception, and can never be changed. It doesn't matter how many people (mainly the press) refer to him by feminine pronouns, the fact remains that Jenner is not, never has been, and never will be a woman.
Likewise, I believe the definition of marriage was set at its conception. It is between a man and a woman, period. Just as a scalpel can't make Jenner a woman, the moronic ramblings of a handful of idiots on the Supreme Court can't change what marriage is. It doesn't matter how many people call a same-sex arrangement a marriage, it will never be true.
I can hear the liberals out there calling me a hater (you were told earlier to stop reading). Fact is, I don't hate any group of people. What I hate is liberalism because it is destroying my country.
Will America ever again be guided by intelligence and decency? We can only hope. But it will never happen as long as gullible voters keep electing liberal politicians, who in turn appoint liberal judges who make stupid decisions.
DOUG MORRIS
Austin
Are they redundant?
With this president and the Supreme Court, why do we need the House and Senate?
H.R. SIMPSON
Jacksonville
Brush up on tongues
I received a call recently from Bruce Westerman asking me to participate in a town-hall meeting via telephone. I accepted.
I answered the phone and listened for an hour as he went on about Obamacare and the national debt, and how bad they were. When my time to ask a question neared, I was screened by a lady who wanted to hear my question. My question to Westerman was this: I am a combat veteran, 91 years old. What if Roosevelt and the Republicans had argued two or three years on whether he should build an A-bomb to end World War II while Germany was really close behind? If they had been like today's Republicans, we would all be speaking a foreign language.
E.W. KING
Murfreesboro
It wasn't me, officer
The flag made me do it!
RAY HIGHTOWER
Little Rock
Nothing to worry on
I'm sure many conservative Arkansans cringe at the thought of same-sex couples having the right to marry, but as of Friday, it's now guaranteed in all 50 states.
As a supporter of same-sex marriage, I could have simply smiled after reading the Supreme Court's decision and gone about my day, but instead, I've decided to write a letter of solace to those who feel their religious tradition is falling apart. Religious definitions of marriage are as plentiful as churches, but there is one common denominator: A religious marriage is a commitment to God. Whether you get married at First Baptist or First Pentecostal, the couple standing at the altar will make a lifelong commitment to the God worshipped in that building, regardless of the marital details that precede that commitment. With the ruling, nothing about any religious marriages will change. Churches will still perform religious marriages, marrying who they want and when they want.
With that said, notice that I keep using the phrase "religious marriage." This is essential because two types of marriages exist in this country: a religious marriage and a legal marriage. Legal marriage--which is defined by legal clauses and social benefits--describes a couple's lifelong commitment to the state, not to God.
With this ruling, gay couples will be guaranteed the opportunity to make that legal commitment to the state and receive the same social and monetary benefits that legal marriage affords. And nothing about your religious marriage in your church has been affected.
So sleep soundly, social conservatives. This non-issue of comparing apples to oranges has been laid to rest. Let's all rise tomorrow--from both sides of the aisle--and pour our energy into something that will help the American people, not divide us.
JUSTIN JONES
Bigelow
World at crossroads
I am not a Catholic but agree with most all of the pope's latest encyclical. He wants us all to take responsibility for the maintenance of our God-given earth. The pope asked deep and penetrating questions and listened to experts on the deteriorating conditions of our small world. He is sounding an alarm--I'm proud of him.
Expanding on his message, we need to build "livingry," not weaponry--stop wasting money on bombs and destruction. Let's wage peace by improving the quality of life everywhere we can. Just as it takes work, sacrifice, compromise and commitment to make a marriage work, that's how the world should work. Our world is at a crossroads: If we just "let it happen," then we will all be forced to act on our more basic instincts (I've got mine, I don't care about you). I hope that we can envision and invest in a long-term future. With a shared goal and hard work, we can create a better, sustainable world where we are all secure.
Typically a major change requires a major catastrophe. This "Humpty Dumpty" lack of foresight and planning makes me nervous. I hope that the pope's message and the worrying messages of many others will be heard. I hope that comprehensive and timely action will maintain and improve our earth for future generations and improve the quality of life for all of Earth's inhabitants. That's not too much to hope and pray for, is it?
EVAN C. BROWN
Little Rock
Editorial on 06/30/2015