Missed lighting again
Well, I missed it again. The annual Christmas lighting was held at Williams Junction a few days ago. In attendance were several dignitaries, with a surprise appearance by Otus the Head Cat. My friend with relatives from Chidester had arranged for all of us to travel via the Little Rock & Western Railroad to Perry, where my friend's Model T was awaiting to shuttle us to Williams Junction.
We missed connections due to a late meeting of SPECTRA (Spectators for the Pronunciation & Elucidation of Cantrell to Respect Arkansans).
DAVE STUFF
Little Rock
Definition of success?
My dad bundled me up one Saturday in November 1957 and took me to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock to see my first Razorback football game. This then-7-year-old became a Razorback fan for life after watching the Hogs beat Texas Tech. My loyalty to the Hogs has not wavered in the almost 60 years since.
However ... Coach Bret Bielema and his staff will make about $7 million this year if everything I read is correct. With ticket prices constantly escalating and another huge sum set to be spent to expand the athletic facilities, it seems that $1 million per win for the football Hogs might be a bit extreme.
When Coach Bielema said he was coming to Arkansas to beat Alabama, not just play Alabama, perhaps he misspoke. Perhaps he meant to say he came to beat Missouri, not just play Missouri.
If 25 wins and 25 losses over the last four years is our definition of success, I believe we need to raise our standards quite a bit.
SCOTT GIBBS
Benton
His job's safe for now
I think John Brummett should be one of the happiest people in Arkansas that Donald Trump won the election. The reason being, he will have a job for four more years, and maybe eight, to remind all of us Republicans how dumb we are!
ROBERT CAMP
Springdale
Entertainment value
Before the election I wrote that Donald Trump might be a tough frog to swallow. It appears I underestimated the gustatory capacity of my fellow citizens. Trump slid right down for 60 million-plus Americans. Not only was Trump elected, but Republicans kept control of Congress and shortly will re-establish a Republican voting majority on the Supreme Court.
It is pretty clear that most American voters do not vote issues. Still, it is surprising that so many could ignore the sleaziness of Donald Trump or that people crying for change would return virtually all incumbents to Congress.
Consequences remain to be seen: Post-election, Donald Trump has talked more moderately than he campaigned, and there is no way to know what he will push; his reality begins anew each day. We can hope that people who finally got medical insurance under the Affordable Care Act--including many Arkansans--do not lose it. Republicans in Congress may attain their long-held goals so that we see cuts in Social Security and turning Medicare into a voucher system, effectively killing it. More tax cuts for the rich and an explosion in the national debt appear unavoidable since that has been consistent Republican practice since 1980. I believe the Supreme Court will not reverse Roe v. Wade since Republicans would lose abortion as a political issue.
For my part, I am going to try to relax, drink more, and watch people get what they voted for. This episode in American history may still have some entertainment value.
ROGER A. WEBB
Little Rock
They won't hurt you
"Thank you for your service"--a nice thing to hear. Every time I go out, someone smiles as me and says it. It's nice to hear, but some of the boys never hear it, and wouldn't know how to react if they did.
These are the old heads I see when I go up to Fort Roots to see my doctor. These old guys are sitting outside and have a 1,000-yard stare in their eyes. They will sit perfectly still for a long time, and you can tell they are years in the past, and seeing horrible things.
Most fellas are all right, but some never forget. They are the fellas who came home and were lost. They live in the hills of the Ozarks. Some live in poverty, being unable to adapt.
Some live in the bushes at the backside of Burns Park and only come out of hiding at night.
I try to help these men. Most are in their late 60s and are alone, except for others like them.
There are groups who live together in cardboard hooches, below Pulaski Heights, next to the golf course.
Don't be afraid of them; they won't hurt you. They are just old vets trying to survive, but they can't escape their service.
Just smile at them, and maybe once in a while get a vet a two-liter soda or a Big Mac.
C.W.O. HILLIS
Jacksonville
The path to happiness
What a treat to read Philip Martin's essay, "How to be happy (for dummies)." His 10 proverbs would be good advice for even the wisest among us. Not just dummies.
I wonder if he gave any thought to the ordering of them. To me they should have been reversed. The most important proverb should come first. Surely loving a special someone is more "happiness-producing" than loving a dog. I sometimes see families who treat their dogs better than their children, and I understand that Arkansans spend more money on dog food than they do on our child welfare system. That doesn't make me happy.
I particularly liked item eight, which encouraged people to read things that challenge them.
Devoid from the list was a suggestion that we become happy by serving others. So, I would like to add another suggestion for happiness: "Every day do two things helpful for others who don't expect it. Don't let anyone know about it. If one of those acts does get found out, do three nice things that day."
Peace and birds.
JERRY BUTLER
Hot Springs
Editorial on 12/04/2016