Western civilization
I believe the terror ISIS has created in Paris and against Russia is a war on Western civilization. But there is one thing I believe President Barack Obama is wrong on, and that is not sending troops on the ground. However, the intelligence against ISIS should be important as compared to the sloppy mess George Walker Bush had sent us into.
The refugee problem is a problem for state governors including Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, who fears a terrorist among them. I too as an American citizen fear them.
JOHN HUERTA
Warren
Restore their country
It seems to me that the question is not why don't we take in the refugees, but why we are not doing something to remove Bashar Assad and restore that country to the Syrian people. I know I would much rather go home than have to start over in a foreign land.
Let's write some letters to the Congress and president about that!
ROSEMARY INMAN
Cabot
Should not overreact
It is right to be concerned about the threat of terrorism, but we need to keep some perspective. Flocks of birds and schools of fish instinctively form so individuals lessen the threat from predators. Banks use 16-digit credit-card numbers to lessen the chance that a scammer will randomly choose your card number. Your individual risk of terrorism harm is much less than that of being struck by lightning.
It is right to take care, but not to overreact.
A recent letter-writer revived the old war cry of "kill them all; God will know his own." The armchair warriors are at it again. I think Sen. Barack Obama was right in saying, "I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars."
We don't need another debacle like Vietnam or the Iraq war.
ARTHUR LUCK
Maumelle
Must address poverty
Re Ken Miller's letter about poverty: In Sasha Abramsky's book, The American Way of Poverty: How the Other Half Still Lives, he interviewed many impoverished people all over the United States. He says no society has banished poverty.
The middle class has skidded to poverty level and the poor and working poor to destitute or worse, many for generations. The poor have low cash and no transportation. They don't purchase coffee by the cup. They visit no malls, cafes, theaters or river walks. They often buy food from the local dollar store.
The poorest of the poor live under freeway ramps, bridges, on skid row, in trailers, shanties or in ghettos. Many have little education, make bad choices, use drugs, solicit payday lenders, have low-paying jobs and can be found at the food banks. The middle class, middle-agers, military vets all fall on this economic ladder and the elderly have cascaded to destitution.
The political landscape turns poverty into a tragedy evidenced by a retreat of democratic belief and practices that have the aroma of scandal. Millions are hurt by a fractured economy and a dysfunctional political system.
From 1920 onward, many have struggled to survive with shattered lives. Politicians don't talk about it and journalists don't investigate it.
This is a compassionate book and makes an excellent read.
JOE BRAGDON
West Helena
Letting fear take over
Reflecting on the controversy surrounding the Syrian refugees coming to the U.S., I have to say I am surprised at Arkansas' response--refusing to take any. I know we have a very large constituency of Christian conservatives here.
As a Christian, I feel our response should be clear. We must help them. Sometimes I wonder if I read from the same Bible that others read from. I think Jesus' message to Christians is crystal-clear. He had only two commandments and both had the same message. "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind," and "Love your neighbor as yourself." His message is to love.
When asked, "Who is my neighbor?" he also made this crystal-clear with the Parable of the Good Samaritan helping someone who is of a different race, religion and culture. After telling the parable, he said, "Go and do likewise." In other words, your neighbor is everyone. Then to make all this abundantly clear, he spent his entire life showing us how to live, healing the sick and feeding the hungry. (Notice he did not say love them unless they are homosexual, or love them unless they are Muslim, or love them unless they are Syrian refugees.) Remember also that Jesus gave his life for his philosophy. Of course, the ones who killed him were the politicians and religious leaders and not the people he was helping. He knew he would die for his beliefs, but he did what was right to show us how to live.
Then I am even more surprised at politicians like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, whose families came here as refugees, denying this same help to the Syrian refugees. And, of course, a great many of our families came here as refugees and immigrants also.
I certainly understand the fear, but we shouldn't ever allow fear to cause us to do the wrong thing.
SALLY MAYS
Roland
Nation of immigrants
There has been much written and said about allowing Muslim refugees into our country. Those who oppose their admittance are afraid some of them may cause us harm.
The basis of this fear is the recent bombings in Paris and other violent acts from around the world committed by thugs claiming to be mainstream Muslims. They are not. They are extremists of the worst type and their acts should not be blamed on Muslims seeking help and safety in our country.
To exclude people because they might cause us harm puts us down a dangerous path of judging whole blocs of people by the actions of a few. If this type of thinking were to be broadly applied to citizens of our country, we would be locking up people before they committed a crime. We here in America have experienced many domestic mass shootings committed by citizens of our own country from many faiths. We have not condemned all of the people of those faiths for those violent acts. Should we be suspicious of all gun owners because they might shoot someone some day?
Our government has a procedure to fully screen those seeking entry to our country. We are a nation of immigrants. We are the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
Try to remember that when you say, "No, you are not welcome here."
BILL FARRELL
Bella Vista
Editorial on 11/24/2015