Wide variety of speech
My father was a college English professor, so my siblings and I grew up unconsciously speaking textbook English as our native tongue. As I got older, I was astonished and delighted with the varieties and inventiveness of speech spoken by my friends, by my grandparents, by Southerners, by African Americans, etc., etc.
The only speech I find troublesome is that spoken by wooden soldiers who think there's only one "correct" way to speak ... their way.
DAVID SIXBEY
Flippin
Dishonors document
An answer for those who have so little faith in the ideas, ideals and rule of law embodied in the document that has nurtured and protected this country and its inhabitants for over two centuries: Whenever you subvert any of the above for the sake of expediency, you dishonor those who brought forth, sacrificed and even died for our Constitution.
This document is to apply to everyone coming under its umbrella under all circumstances at all times without exception. Even though, admittedly, that has not always been the case.
The light we have shared with the rest of the world is being dimmed by those who are occupied more with the moment than by the lessons of our past and the promise of our future.
Our Constitution is what has kept us free and strong for over two centuries. It's not just the agenda of one man, party or group. If we let anyone subvert this Constitution for any reason, the light of liberty we share with the world gets dimmed. If the freedom and protection of justice it affords us is diminished under the guise of protecting us for the moment, this becomes the law of someone's whim.
The Constitution is very clear. Everyone who is subject to our legal system has rights. Anyone in custody for breaking our laws comes under the power of the United States of America. The day those rights are not afforded to all is the beginning of the demise of our liberty and our form of government.
Whenever the rule of law is put aside or even bent a little for any reason, only the powerful and those in power are safe from abuse. Our Constitution keeps the playing field even for everyone.
JAMES E. NICELY
Bella Vista
To save lives of teens
Drugs have become very popular in Arkansas among teens, especially prescription drugs. As you have probably already heard, Arkansas has the highest rate of teen prescription-drug abuse in the nation. Teens are able to acquire drugs in such an inconspicuous manner because these drugs are located right inside of their homes.
In order to resolve this problem, parents must begin taking action. The most effective option is to have parents count the number of pills that are in their prescription bottles every day. Although this may be a bit time-consuming, I believe positive results will come out of this as parents will be able to tell if their child has been abusing prescription drugs without their knowledge. This action can stop teens from becoming too addicted to drugs, and possibly even save many lives.
CHRISTY TRAN
Little Rock
Officials' obligations
I have been watching the hullabaloo that is going on about a race for the Supreme Court. It seems there are some folks whose panties are in a wad because a lady candidate is married to an apparently well-to-do lawyer. I don't know the lady nor her husband. Nobody has said she is incompetent, has a bad record as a judge or stepped over the line of integrity. Apparently her failing is that she is married to a successful lawyer.
What surprises me the most out of this whole mess is John Brummett promoting Asa Hutchinson to attain the power to select the judges. What qualifies Asa to have such power? Nothing in his background leads me to think that he has better judgment than I or any other man or woman. He wasn't elected by the people with the understanding he would have such power in this regard.
Does Asa really want to eliminate elections for candidates for judgeships? It seems to me that the inference is that while he is not subject to any undue influence from campaign contributors, judges and judicial candidates would be.
Our justice system is by no means perfect. The people can and do make mistakes. Usually, those mistakes even out in time, but at least the people have their say.
Mr. Brummett apparently refers to a recent appointment to the bench as evidence of why the people should give up their right to vote and select their choices for judges. Did he just say he is more qualified than more than a half-million Arkansas voters? Did he just say that the newly appointed judge is better than all the other five sitting judges and that many others might agree with him on this? Dammit, sir!
In my humble opinion, all elected officials are obligated to the voters. This is not the last time an attempt will be made to get the voters to relinquish their rights.
ALLAN DISHONGH
Little Rock
Our bleeding hearts
Tax time is just around the corner, and Congress has yet to address a major injustice as regards resources allowable for charitable donations (and resulting deductions). You can claim credit for either cash or merchandise donations, but what about the most important donation of all?
Giving some stranger a pint of your blood seems to be not just praiseworthy, but definitely worth a deduction.
Ah, but how to place a value on something that's been called priceless? Easy, just take a poll of the donations' recipients.
DON SHORT
Farmington
There's a reason for it
Responding to the killing of the mother holding her 2-year-old daughter, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola said, "How and why a 15-year-old can easily get a gun is obviously something this community and communities around the country is struggling with."
Not sure about "how," but I believe "why" is a no-brainer. Family, family, family, or the lack thereof. Remember Dan Quayle and Murphy Brown? Younger folks can do a Google search.
BILL CURTIS
Hot Springs Village
Editorial on 02/07/2016