Orientation to action
I find it hard to believe that after years of sending people to Congress, where we fail to hear from them until next election, that when we have an action-oriented senator, so many folks really like inaction. I, for one, appreciate an action-oriented Congress rather than one just oriented to enjoying the benefits including the excessive pension benefits.
BOB JOHNSON
Rogers
With the commoners
After more than six years of reading hate-filled letters concerning our current president, I have ceased to be amazed at the blatant racism, Christian hypocrisy and the plain lack of common sense from some of the writers. However, the letter from Ashton Miller III stopped me in my tracks.
It was perhaps one of the nastiest letters I think I have ever read. When did he get to determine that a purity standard is needed for the University of Arkansas? I would like to thank Dr. David Gearhart for seeking diversity in the campus' student population.
Should education for those who do not look like Mr. Miller be regulated to some institution that he considers to be the "back of the bus"? I was poor. I made good grades at a small high school, but still had some classroom deficiencies in certain courses before I entered the U of A. I did the best I could and got a degree from there. Many years later, I pursued a professional degree, which I attained. How dare he decide that an education cannot be for the poor, or those who may not have gotten all the educational services they needed?
I tried to figure out why a person who supposedly received an education from the U of A and whose ancestors attended the U of A could come to such a hateful place that he needed to publicly air that. Mr. Miller, don't assume that others are not worthy to attend your alma mater because they don't look like you or have your money or life experiences.
If he is involved in alumni affairs in any prominent way, I would hope the university breaks ties with him. I hope he can open Miller University so no one in his lineage will have to rub elbows with the commoners as they pursue a higher education.
CLEMEL PHILLIPS
Pine Bluff
Makes liberals scream
Thank the Lord for a man like Tom Cotton. He has the backbone to take a stand for what he really believes in, rather than being a fence-straddling politician. Tom served his country with honor, fighting for the things our Constitution guarantees.
Since he is not an extreme far-left liberal, he and our great community organizer have some very different views about the direction our country is going. Tom Cotton would naturally take a stand against this Iranian deal that apparently gives them, as it stands, almost everything the Iranians want. It seems our president is more interested in making this deal for his legacy than what it will mean to our country 10 years from now.
Some of you liberal Democrats are always bringing up the Koch brothers. Are they bad because they support conservatives? I never heard you complain about far-left billionaires who support your causes.
Again, I want to thank Tom for what he is doing. He is making liberals scream. That has to be good.
VOYNE WEAVER
Vilonia
They're so generous!
I take back everything bad I ever said about the IRS and the federal government. I just got through paying my taxes and they told me I could keep my box I'm living in.
RAYMOND HOWARD
North Little Rock
Nip racism in the bud
It truly speaks well of Oklahoma University nipping the latest ugly face of racism. Free speech should never impede education. To stop this insidious assault on our values, campuses should use more cameras, not tolerate intolerance, and have more sensitivity training for all.
Clearly, if it weren't for the video, bravely recorded by the passenger on that bus, these youths would still be spreading their hate. In order to eradicate this sort of behavior, Arkansas should lead the way. Requiring cameras with audio in dorms, classrooms and meeting areas, and body cameras on all campus officials, will help expose abhorrent individuals.
OU's David Boren is to be commended for his immediate courageous action. He ensures every student will think twice before saying anything to offend another. Justice involving ugly speech must be swift and open. Free speech cannot mean free to insult.
Also to be applauded are the calls to go after the parents. The home is the best place to educate children to disavow the language in their favorite music. Parents should listen to those lyrics and point out how terrible it truly is. Americans aren't ready for cameras in homes yet, but educating parents will help. There are generations of citizens who didn't have the advantage of public schools teaching the wonders of multiculturalism. Perhaps colleges could offer scholarships to students capturing their parents exhibiting racist behavior. Or, if parents and grandparents are required to attend annual sensitivity classes, they might get a better understanding of what students are taught daily.
Cameras exposing both speech and actions, cracking down hard on individuals, and sensitivity training should guarantee a free society.
PHILLIP FINCH
Batesville
Must be very unhappy
Seems to me that Deborah Springer Suttlar must be a very unhappy black person with a racist bent. Her belief that Sen. Tom Cotton has very little respect for the Obama administration is probably true. I can't find very much to respect about it either.
It seems Senator Cotton was trying to prevent her hero from making a terrible mistake by arrogantly trying to make a treaty with Iran without the advice and consent of Congress. Of course, he says it isn't a treaty. That's like calling a wolf a dog.
I wouldn't think a black racist would have much love for the Southern confederacy anyway. She brought up the subject of lions, which puts me in mind of a jingle I heard once. There once was a young lady from Niger who smiled as she rode on a tiger. They returned from their ride with the lady inside and the smile on the face of the tiger.
JOHN G. VOWELL
Little Rock
The trashiest people
Arkansans are undeniably the trashiest people when it comes to litter. No respect; one can only imagine what their houses and yards look like.
ELLIS WILLIAMS III
England
Editorial on 03/27/2015