Re-read Constitution
Shame on Asa Hutchinson, John Boozman and Tom Cotton. I am thoroughly disgusted with our governor and our two U.S. senators for their performance at last Sunday's rally on the Capitol steps. While every American has the right to free speech, we should hold our elected officials to a much higher standard.
These three represent all Arkansans, not just the ones that they like and agree with. They all swore, before God, to uphold the Constitution of the United States when they took office. The Supreme Court has repeatedly, and again this week, upheld a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy up until viability. While our senators and governor may not agree with this, they are sworn to uphold it.
I believe that speaking publicly against abortion, using inflammatory language like dismemberment and repeating the false allegations against Planned Parenthood is an egregious breach of their oaths. (The allegations have been debunked by several congressional and multiple state investigations.)
Our brilliant founders chose to separate church and state. That means keep government out of God and keep God out of government. I strongly recommend that Asa Hutchinson, John Boozman and Tom Cotton re-read the Constitution of the United States and pay special attention to the First Amendment. It will make them better public servants of all their constituents.
ROSALIND CREED
Sherwood
Leaves us feeling sad
Abortion is an uncomfortable subject that when brought up usually leaves people feeling uncomfortable and sad. Pro-choice believe that abortion is acceptable and pro-life believe it is not. It seems it is often used as a way out of a pregnancy. Some would say it should only be used as a last resort, but why is this even something we turn to?
I believe every life has purpose. As children we are all taught that we are special, important, and we can do anything, so then when do our lives start to matter? Some say when we are born and others say when we are conceived or maybe even when our hearts start to beat. If those lives don't matter, then why do ours? In today's society teenagers have a lot of problems with bullying and self-image, so suicide becomes a way out. Why do our lives automatically matter more than innocent babies? Trust me, we've made way more mistakes and hurt people, but these lives, they didn't mean to be born, they just were.
Regardless of your personal beliefs, I believe you are killing an innocent human being who is defenseless against your methods. Although it is legal in the United States, this does not make it moral. And that's what it comes down to: your morals. And if you agree it's acceptable and right, then why does abortion leave us feeling so sad?
KAITLYN ROBERTS
Benton
There's a reason for it
In response to your paper's editorial asking the question, "Why isn't Nikki Haley running for president?": Do you not remember the horrible church shooting in her state last year?
It seemed to me she was so overwhelmed and unstable, she could not even give a rational response to the situation. Can you imagine if she had to make decisions on a national level? She would have to study polls for days to determine how the people felt before she could give an opinion on what "she" believed to be the best response.
I believe she is not running for president because she does not have the character or integrity to do so and, unfortunately, is just another empty suit giving an eloquent speech.
GEOFFREY GWINN
Little Rock
Treatment and advice
As an answer to David Weaver of Sherwood who questioned the necessity of a Planned Parenthood, I would like to explain what I think is so vitally important about Planned Parenthood.
Of course there are thousands of gynecologists throughout the country, but if you are a young woman without insurance, working a job to barely pay the rent and buy food, do you think she has the funds to see a gynecologist who may charge as much as $150 or more per office visit?
Maybe she has a bladder infection or a yeast infection and she needs medical treatment immediately, not two weeks away plus the charge for an office call and for medicine at the nearby pharmacy. Perhaps she is just a young lady trying to protect herself from becoming pregnant or from disease, and has no insurance; Planned Parenthood is where she can go for treatment and advice.
Men can purchase their contraceptives at the local drive-through gas station or grocery store. Maybe if all contraceptives for men were only available through a doctor's visit to obtain a prescription at a pharmacy, you might not be so quick to judge.
Again, if you would do the research, you will find that very few abortions are conducted at Planned Parenthood compared with other routine services. In addition, if I wish to have an abortion, it is no one's business but my own. I can do with my body what I want, with no permission from anyone, and that is the law of the land per the Supreme Court of the U.S.
MARY D. CAIN
Little Rock
Be proud of support
Walk tall and proud, Arkansas. Hold your heads high, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, state Sen. Jason Rapert and all who supported the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act.
I believe former Congressman Henry Hyde had you in mind when he wrote: "When the time comes, as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgment, I've often thought, as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone standing before God--and a terror will rip your soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think there'll be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world--and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement. They will say to God, 'Spare him, because he loved us!'"
REBECCA HARTMAN
Harrison
Of vitriolic hyperbole
Re Dana B. Kelley's "Crime concentration": This vitriolic hyperbole exceeds both John Brummett and the college professor at Batesville, the man of many sorrows, Bradley R. Gitz.
John and Bradley need to up their game!
JOHN ROACH
Yellville
Editorial on 01/22/2016