If you want a taste of Big Brother government run amok, check out the recent letter from the Arkansas State Highway Commission to Metroplan threatening to remove all funding from the 30 Crossing project unless Metroplan agrees to abolish or provide an exception to its six-lane policy.
In a splendid display of convoluted logic, they explain that the only build alternatives they have developed require this action--so if Metroplan fails to accede to their wishes, they'll take their money and go elsewhere. And they manage to somehow link their threat to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
In point of fact, the bridge could be rebuilt, the North Little Rock frontage roads could be connected, internal and external access to the corridor could be improved, and any number of other improvements could be made without adding more through lanes. All these improvements could be made with or without construction of a new bridge in the Chester-Pike area or in the previously studied area to the east. All this could be done consistent with the NEPA requirement to develop the full range of reasonable alternatives responsive to the purpose and need statement. After all, the Highway Department has already identified an eight-lane Federal Highway Administration-requested alternative as being reasonable even though it slows future southbound traffic more than the no-build alternative.
Metroplan has opened a public comment period to hear what people have to say about granting an unlimited-lane waiver to the Highway Department for the I-30 corridor. Comments are to be directed to comments@metroplan.org. Further particulars are available at metroplan.org/files/53/2016-07Legal-6Lane-Waiver.pdf.
DALE PEKAR
Little Rock
Embrace all cultures
My friends on either coast don't believe me that Robert E. Lee Day is a state holiday here. When I then tell them it is observed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they think I'm making a sick joke on Arkansas.
I can understand wanting to commemorate those who died in the Civil War--and we have Memorial Day for that. Honor the Confederate general? What about the one in five Arkansans who fought for the Union? What about that the Confederacy was formed partially to maintain slavery? What am I supposed to be celebrating?
I cannot honor the Confederacy or its general and claim I support Dr. King's vision of racial unity any more than the Old South could reconcile a political system founded on liberty with an economic system founded on slavery.
It is time to stop romanticizing the past, and face up to the awful truth that the historical record here is lamentable. It took the Civil War to end slavery here, the federal courts to end segregation here, and to integrate the schools the president had to dispatch the National Guard here.
When will Arkansas embrace a multicultural, multiracial America striving to live up to its ideals, and face the future instead of being dragged in by its heels?
Let's drop the holiday and move on.
PAUL WEXLER
Little Rock
See the movie, decide
Hillary's America, a documentary movie, is presently showing in many theaters. It is also available in hardback. Both represent a compelling account of the history of the Democratic Party from Andrew Jackson forward. For those who do not know American history of this period, it may well be an eye-opener. See the movie or read the book and then decide for yourself!
JOE COWAN
Little Rock
No one strong enough
What does it say about our country when 30-40 percent of the U.S. electorate supports a presidential candidate who appears to be mentally unhinged?
It seems unlikely that the country is suicidal enough to actually elect Donald Trump, but it reflects poorly on the leaders of the Republican Party who continue to endorse a candidate who doesn't support their party, and it reflects poorly on the nation as a whole that we have a presidential candidate who would endorse a Russian dictator but won't give a modicum of support to the leaders of his own party.
Ronald Reagan stood up to the "evil empire." The party of Reagan has no one strong enough to stand up to the Trump/Putin coalition. This isn't "morning in America." Instead, it's a sad day for America and dark days ahead for the Republican Party.
MICHAEL FOX
Russellville
Strong endorsement
Our esteemed president's strong condemnation of Donald Trump as not having the intellectual capacity to be president is probably Mr. T's strongest beneficial endorsement to date.
Mr. President enhances the message that his own "world leadership" is a failure in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Iran, Cuba, Egypt, Russia, China, Crimea, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, U.S.A, Israel, Palestine, Europe, Somalia, Sudan, Japan, and North Korea, having made the world a less safe place to live.
Perhaps the DNC presidential nominee will continue embellishing Mr. T's persona and be value-added to the vote for change in leadership.
R. NILES RAINS
Green Forest
Possum Poot update
July was a very rough month in Possum Poot. Shortly after our grand fireworks for the Fourth we got the news that The Donald was filing bankruptcy on his luxury retreat for godly Republican candidates. This upset all the "little people," the Trumpeteers who lived on-site, for they were forced to move. We in Possum Poot are a God-fearing people who do not allow slackers and ne'er-do-wells to dwell in our righteous village--no job, no stay--out you go. Some of the little people had tears, others were content as they left.
The Donald did leave us a "yuge" monument. As he is the most patriotic, he erected a 200-foot flag pole with a 195-foot flag. A week later the biggest patriot (by flag size) put a 50-foot gold cross on top because he is so righteous. Well, the storm blew through a couple of Thursdays ago. The pole came down, splitting the double-wide town hall in half; the cross cartwheeled and landed upside down in the town dump and the pole snapped the extension cord for the town's power supply to the generator.
Like I said, rough month! But the supplies for the mimeograph came in, so another edition of the Omnibus Herald Chronicle Reporter Advocate Picayune will be forthcoming.
STEVE GIBSON
Little Rock
Kindness of strangers
I was at a Sonic on Mabelvale Plaza. A sweet black lady, I cannot remember her name, took my order and I didn't have much money, but I had a coupon. It was a buy one, get one free. So I ordered a hamburger. I don't remember the circumstances, but she paid for the whole thing. So I got my hamburger, free hamburger and still had my coupon. When I got home I discovered I also had a cheese sandwich.
I wish I could remember her name.
Thank you, Sonic window lady, whoever you are.
MELBA SHARP
Little Rock
Now unrecognizable
Over 200 years ago, a group of men came together to draft a document that would protect the rights of all the people within this nation. These men were not angels; however, they did acknowledge the existence of God, and his sovereignty over this nation and that his standards were to be the foundation for this document.
Over the years we have looked to this document to protect the rights of the people of this nation, including our religious liberties. Christians have come to rely on this document. We went to sleep believing it would protect us. But while we slept, it seems those who were opposed to those same religious liberties grew in strength and gathered allies. They began to shake this document in order to reshape, redirect, its intent. When we finally woke up and realized what was happening, it was too late. Those wanting to drive any reminders of God from public view and silence Christians have now gained control and are seeking to reshape this document into something that is unrecognizable from its beginnings.
We Christians have mistakenly put our trust in this document to protect our religious liberties instead of God. Only our God can guarantee our religious liberties. We have placed this document, the Constitution of the United States, on a throne before our God and we have worshiped it.
As great as it is, it should never come between us and our God. God has said that we are to put no other gods before him. He is a jealous god and serious consequences will result if we do this. I believe we have done this and are now seeing the results of our mistake. Pray for our nation and its salvation.
RON HAGEN
Fayetteville
Hillary's fingerprints
The death of Khizr Khan's son is sad and tragic, but why would a grieving father use a son's death to make a personal, name-calling, political attack on an opponent he knew would reply in like manner? Whether or not it did, the whole brouhaha appears to have Hillary Clinton's fingerprints all over it.
I'm sure the planners knew Donald Trump would reply. They knew emotionalism would overrule reason. They knew the extremely liberal major media would make a far bigger issue of it than it deserved. They knew some of the Republicans would also attack Trump. And they figured Hillary could laugh her way to the White House.
Rather than attack Trump, why isn't someone wondering why a father would politicize his son's death as he has?
And to Republicans, especially political leaders, do you not realize that Hillary is the opponent and you need to put her on the defensive? Don't attack the only one who may be able to prevent her from putting two or three justices on the Supreme Court. I believe she is very fond of Muslims and would, by immigration, bring thousands of Muslims and a few terrorists into this country. Trump opposes that.
It appears to this observer that for the good of the country, you leaders need to put away your pride and selfishness and do everything you can to defeat Hillary. Help us!
WALLACE ALEXANDER
Delight
Feedback
Magnifier, please
The newspaper has several sizes of print--large, medium, small, smaller and tiny. If the print in the tiny range becomes any smaller, it will require a magnifier to read. I don't know if the newspaper would supply the magnifier. I would like to read what is printed in the tiny print, but my glasses do not have magnifier lenses.
Oh well, I guess the answer is to go to the TV news. No problem there.
JOHN BELITSAKOS
Fayetteville
Of good memories
That was a mighty fine piece you ran on Dent Gitchel and the Gridiron.
During his college days, as the night wore on, he could pick up his guitar and sing "them sad songs." During the midnight hour, our taste in music ran to the lachrymose.
It is good to remember Griffin "The Griffer" Smith and his wife, Mildred. They expended countless hours in producing and improving the Gridiron.
BILLY R. WILSON
Little Rock
Editorial on 08/06/2016