Do your homework
I am curious as to how many times Sallye Martin will be permitted to continue her little quips without a response. I made an unsuccessful attempt to comment on her recent letter making light of the Benghazi tragedy claiming the lives of four American patriots. I still consider her comments to be offensive and insensitive, and that she also denigrated Congressman Darrell Issa for trying to get to the bottom of the IRS scandal. What freedom-loving American would not support that effort?
Her latest offering contains more of the same. The second paragraph (the one with all the negative questions) can be answered in kind. If Barack Obama had not been elected president, how many of our closest allies would be offended or alienated, how many of Alinsky's eight Rules for Radicals would be closer to reality, would Yemen fall to the radical Islamist terrorists and would there even be an ISIS?
I must remind Sallye that Mark Pryor also took money from the Koch brothers and other out-of-state billionaires. Tom Cotton was elected by God-fearing, peace-loving, patriotic Arkansans who are sick of our freedoms being systematically eroded. Do your homework, Sallye.
Deus existe nobis!
HOWARD D. HUGHES
Maumelle
Shameful lip service
On February 18, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette used its editorial space to excuse and even commend the Arkansas Legislature for failing to separate Martin Luther King Day from Robert E. Lee Day. The editorial calls the effort to separate the two "unnecessary," "gratuitous," and "needless," and says that "it really doesn't matter."
An editorial writer should be an expert on communicating a clear message and on understanding the effect of that message. Even a non-expert understands that the Legislature's action offends many people of diverse backgrounds. Our whole nation has set aside a day to honor civil-rights hero Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It seems the Legislature refuses to allow that celebration without insisting that a Confederate general get equal billing on the very same day in Arkansas. The clear message I get from the editorial is, "We don't care" and "Get over it." The clear effect of that message is divisiveness.
The editorial ends with lip service to healing and peace. Yet, the editorial writer has to know that it rubs salt in old wounds and foments discord. Shame on the Arkansas Legislature. Shame on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
STEVE SHULTS
Little Rock
Back-door recruiter
In regard to Richard Davenport's article concerning the recruitment of football player Willie Sykes, the Husker fans now living in Arkansas (myself included) found it rather peculiar that Sykes would commit to a program and a university sight unseen.
Former Oregon State and now current Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley and his staff had spent a long time cultivating a relationship with him, and it seems good ol' Bret comes swooping in with his last-minute, back-door recruitment. I think Richard was actually spot-on when he wrote, "a handful of things helped sway" Sykes ... perhaps a large handful.
JOHN J. ZACH
Maumelle
Artist was forgotten
A few months ago, I sent a letter whining about the music our oldie Little Rock music stations feed us. I think they have about three CDs containing about 50 of the same songs over and over. My job requires me to drive all over Arkansas, so I am exposed to the artistry of the "horse-faced" Prince and the gravel-crusher moans of Stevie Nicks on these "oldie" stations ad nauseum. Whatever happened to live DJs taking live requests?
My issue now is that last month a great artist from another era, named Lesley Gore, passed and not one station I heard played even one of her hits. Shame on you, Little Rock radio!
At 16 years old, this young girl had more talent, stage presence and class than all the so-called artists we hear over and over. She also had a No. 1 hit at 16. They didn't even remember or memoralize her other than news clips.
Do we now have politically correct oldies radio? I've heard of Obamacare, Obama phones, now Obama oldies?
BOB CARNATION
Austin
Government overstep
The new law passed as Senate Bill 202 is misguided. When businesses have the right to discriminate, they end up hurting themselves. Diversity is best in nature and in business. I believe Asa Hutchinson is allowing Arkansas to shoot itself in the foot and shutting commerce out by opening the door to discrimination.
How do you know what someone's sexual orientation is? Do you hand them a form they must fill out? Is it the way they walk? If they wear pants or a skirt? Not long ago, women couldn't get away with wearing pants, and men weren't afraid to wear kilts or skirts.
Is it the way they talk? I have noticed lots of lovely sing-songy qualities in a Southern man's accent, easily misunderstood as gay. I like the sound of a Southern accent, yet lots of stereotypes of gay men in the media are using Southern accents. Good God, everyone in the South must be gay!
Will gay women be less likely to be noticed? Or will there be paid informants to whisper judgments to the payer?
It seems this suspicion of what gender someone loves is like the beginnings of the Nazi Party in 1933. The gays were the first ones that Hitler singled out.
I think the Lord made gays to help keep our population balanced; this is an alternative belief I personally subscribe to. Who you love is the ultimate freedom of speech. Asa Hutchinson had said he had reservations about SB202, but he let it slide through. Please, veto this law. Laws and regulations on the mysterious workings of the human heart are real signs of government overstep.
SAGE HOLLAND
Fox
Inequality question
I wish to thank Mr. Bradley Gitz for his column truly pointing out the conservative viewpoint on income inequality, i.e., poverty. Seems Mr. Gitz does not feel inadequate housing, food, heat, medical care, or clothing are of any concern to him, as he says it matters little.
While stating that nothing can be done to change wealth inequality, he fails to note changes in reducing taxes on wealthy, cutting programs to aid the poor, and passing laws restricting labor from gaining wage benefits and fighting minimum-wage increases.
Mr. Gitz, those of your ilk do everything to promote inequality by political means, aiding those like the Koch brothers unfairly influencing law.
BILL FRITZ
Hot Springs Village
Wasted opportunity
I must take exception to the comments of Ethel Simpson regarding her lesson on the proper case of pronouns. As a former English teacher, I had to really stretch to comprehend her submission. I venture 90 percent of the readers were lost and not inspired to research her meaning.
Knowledge without example is a vacuous state and lost opportunity. Without examples for clarity, her lesson failed.
What a waste of space.
KAYE HELD
Hot Springs Village
Editorial on 03/02/2015