Not ordinary enemy
A word of caution to ISIS: Sitting in the Oval Office, in the greatest country in the world, is, I believe, no doubt the most incompetent president that America has ever known in a long line of presidents. I do not intend that as derogatory, but I think seven years and one pending spell complete disaster for America as we know it.
Under the present circumstances and situations, I believe there is no way to win without courage, wisdom and know-how.
Our leaders are not dealing with any ordinary, wicked, incompetent military organization. These people apparently are working out of a deep devotion to their Islamic religion, which I believe is not some simple religious organization but is influenced by the very satanic powers of hell. The evil that these people exhibit can come from nowhere else. It will surely take a better leader than the one we have to deal with it.
On the political scene it seems there is no one promising to be any better. Arkansas’ own Tom Cotton is closer than any one of the others representing.
I believe the morality of our present-day culture and the relative mindset of our religious organizations do nothing to encourage the creator of the universe to take a hand. America has become another Sodom from the Holy Bible and we can certainly expect no different results. America can either get back to the basics she was created under and recognize the holy God of our fathers or suffer the consequences.
Repent or perish!
EVERETT L. MASON
Pangburn
Don’t tolerate attitude
The military academies and many classrooms have an honor code: “I will not cheat, nor will I tolerate those that do.” Non-cheaters who knowingly tolerate cheaters poison the academic process.
There needs to be a mindset-change for residents of the Middle Eastnamely, “I will not commit acts of terror, nor will I tolerate those that do.” As long as non-terrorists tolerate those that commit terrorism, there will be no significant changes in the Middle East.
I believe the recent events in Paris illustrate the poisonous principle of “tolerating” the terrorist mindset in the community.
WESLEY THOMPSON
Searcy
Appropriate passage
As my wife and I were reading the Bible on a recent morning, some words in the Book of Job just stood out, describing what the world is undergoing today. I think many readers will agree.
“He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.”
JERRY D. POTTER
Hot Springs
Sure, we can do that
So, our good liberal types think we can easily accommodate 10,000 refugees this year, followed by maybe 70,000 more later on. After all, we’ve done such a wonderful job taking care of all the homeless folks here at home.
And who is going to pay the bill? The taxpayers!
How will the refugees get here? Can’t use military aircraft. No amenities, you know. From experience, I wouldn’t want to fly in a C-130 that long.
Then there are health and welfare costs, finding work and education. Will they want to be spread out all over the country or stay together?
Just remember Jimmy Carter’s Cuban fiasco.
BRUCE DART
Stuttgart
Letting our fears win
When our state governments and now the Congress decree that we should not help the refugees fleeing persecution and war—at first it truly saddened my heart for I knew what God would be telling me to do: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked and a home to the homeless. Are my religious beliefs and ability to act on them being denied because others may be led by fear of terrorists?
When told to love my neighbor and brother, I don’t recall the need to have them thoroughly vetted before I help. If we live in fear, the terrorist has won. As people of God, we are told to live in faith and “do not be afraid for I am with you”—last I read, anyhow. When people sign up to serve in the military, if told there is a risk you can die, do they back off? When people commit to serving as doctors, nurses, EMTs, police, firemen, if told there is a risk, do they back off?
One last picture sticks in my mind. A man sleeping on the rocky ground on one side of barbed-wire fence and on the other side is the police standing guard. Does anyone remember Auschwitz and the Jewish camps where barbed wire kept them in and they were slowly starved and left to die? What is the difference here?
And God’s final word on this? As I prepared to do my podcast show recently, I asked God what he wanted to speak. Opened the Bible and it fell open to a verse in 1 Peter that said “above all preserve an intense love for each other, since love covers over many a sin.” The next verse: “Welcome each other into your houses without grumbling.” OK, then—heard that.
Do not kid yourself—a greater authority is watching. God will remember if you gave him food, water, clothing or a home when he was in need. Don’t be surprised when you are denied admittance.
ELIZABETH THOMAS
Clarksville
Ask a simple question
There seems to be a bunch of folks that believe that the people in the United States that are opposed to allowing thousands of these refugees to enter our country are racist, or certainly not good Christians. They insist that only a small number of the refugees could possibly cause us any danger.
Let me ask a simple question of these: Say, for example, you have a bowl of 10,000 M&Ms, but 100 of them are coated with a deadly poison that would kill you.
Please tell me just how many M&Ms you’re willing to eat.
DANNY SNYDER
Hot Springs Village
Shouldn’t get a pass
Doris Jones wonders why women of child-bearing age don’t take responsibility for their bodies. I wonder why men get a pass in the discussion.
Condoms are easily available to men, or they could use the sure method of prevention of unwanted pregnancies—keep their pants zipped.
We need to begin to spread the blame for unwanted pregnancies equally between men and women.
SHIRLEY BARROW
Maumelle