How is that prejudice?
Donald Trump says he will make the country great again. Liberals say that is what Hitler said about Germany. These same liberals compared George W. Bush with Hitler. In addition, liberals say Republicans are homophobes, xenophobes, Islamophobes and racists. Why not use reason?
Does protecting our borders from drugs, criminals, diseases and weapons make Donald Trump a racist? Do wise parents lock their doors at night to protect their children and property? Does that make them racists? Does using the Secret Service to protect the president make him a racist?
Should laws of citizenship be enforced? Should laws for work permits and visas be enforced? Should thousands be allowed to enter the country illegally and disappear into our society to kill, steal and destroy? Before you call me a racist, you should answer my question: Do you leave your doors open 24/7? If you don't, you must be a racist. It's your logic, not mine.
The product of a great leader is the nation's peace and prosperity. Great leaders have wisdom; they are not foolish.
DON CROWSON
Benton
Really not impressed
In Sunday's letters, Terry Jones noted that Philip Martin had used "I" multiple times in his first four sentences of a column, concluding that his columns are "egocentric babble."
I was pleased to see these comments as I have long felt that if Mr. Martin has the opportunity to use a common word that people would understand, he consults his thesaurus long and hard to find a rare one that they won't.
I presume he feels we will all be impressed by his recondite vocabulary. I, for one, am not.
JACK R. IRWIN
Bella Vista
Nation faces dangers
Newspapers and television keep us informed about all the ISIS terrorist misdeeds in the Middle East as well as here in the U.S.A. The comment, often repeated, is that only a small fraction of the Islamic world is part of the extreme and active jihadists. That is most likely true but I believe only part of the real facts.
I am a Holocaust survivor. I spent the early part of my life in Germany; I went to German elementary schools and painfully remember the bullying I had to endure from all the Nazi kids as well as teachers. Whenever there was a Nazi parade, the sidewalks were overflowing with enthusiastic and jubilant Germans. All windows of the apartment buildings were covered with swastika flags. I survived the Holocaust and came through Germany again after the war and could not find any Nazis. All Germans claimed to be decent and good people. Some, I am sure, were just that. Yet it seems the vast number of Germans enthusiastically supported Adolf Hitler and all his murderous schemes.
There is a parallel here with today's Islamic world. I am sure many Muslims want peace, prosperity and comfortable co-existence with the West; yet I believe it is the vast population, not only the rifle-carrying jihadists, that fervently support the "hate the West" movement. After 9/11, masses of Muslims in the Middle East danced in the streets, expressing their joy about the slap the U.S. suffered. It is exactly that massive popular support that allows terrorist organizations to flourish.
There were dark clouds at the horizon in 1938 and there are dark clouds at the horizon now. I just hope our U.S.A. can face the dangers with wisdom and determination.
FRED HILSENRATH
Fairfield Bay
Want fighting chance
In Dana Kelley's column last week, he wrote: "I want a fighting chance. You should too."
I could not agree more with Kelley. After a year and a half in Vietnam (U.S. Army Military Police), I went home on leave before going back for another six months. While home (1971) I joined the NRA. I have been a member ever since and I have been a life member for many years. For 25 years I was a police officer and during that time, for seven years, I drove to college in Joplin, Mo., until I had my B.S. in criminal justice administration with supporting fields in psychology and sociology. I strongly support the Constitution of the U.S.A., all of it!
Thank God we live in a constitutional republic and not a mob-rule pure democracy.
MIKEL D. LOTT
Gateway
At loss for words here
I believe your recent feature on two women united in matrimony was lacking in several areas. The writer seemed to struggle with wording. Ought one use bride-bride, groom-groom, or person-person?
Many struggle with such a union. Call me old-school or Sunday School. I can't find the scripture that supports such unions as being approved by Almighty God.
KAY HICKS
Little Rock
Forever frozen in roles
Some of my favorite TV series with unforgettable ensemble casts include MASH, Seinfeld and Cheers. Some of the actors in these sitcoms created characters so memorable and popular that, after each series ended, the character lived on. Radar, Klinger, Kramer, Norm, Carla ... not only were the stars typecast in these roles, the role stuck. In the public eye, they remain trapped in the character of their sitcom role.
The Donald has carved out a campaign role that needs to evolve or he's going to be trapped in his own "cast," just like the others.
He started as a playground bully railing against the "establishment." The "less educated," who he famously called out in his early speeches, resent the establishment and they found it refreshing to have someone of Trump's financial stature call them out. Take them on. Push them back.
Good for him. Other constituencies also found his unconventional messaging rejuvenating. Entertaining. Overdue.
Now that Trump has moved beyond the need for third-grade rhetoric and is fast approaching a legitimate run for the presidency, he remains stuck in his own quagmire of childish name-calling and breathtaking narcissism.
He needs to evolve. Grow up. Act like a man.
Unless things change with either or both parties before November and we fail to give the voters a clear and decisive candidate to vote for, I feel that a majority of voters will simply support the candidate they hate the least.
What a country.
HARRY HERGET
Jonesboro
Truth misrepresented
While I am happy that Baseline Elementary is no longer on the Department of Education's priority list, I believe the editorial on the subject was seriously misleading or perhaps purposely deceptive.
Credit for this accomplishment was given to Principal Jonathan Crossley and the current staff, when, in fact, I believe the staff that was so disrespectfully dissolved at the end of the 2014-15 school year deserves the credit. This is because removal from the list was based on scores obtained before Mr. Crossley and the current staff were assigned.
I have nothing against Mr. Crossley. I'm sure he is a fine principal and has a good staff. I'm equally as sure that the Arkansas Department of Education doesn't want to give credit where credit is due, because it might put egg on some faces for removing perfectly competent teachers in the first place.
However, it's a slap in the face and insult added to injury to those teachers who deserve the credit for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to so blatantly misrepresent the truth.
SHARRA HAMPTON
Little Rock
Editorial on 07/01/2016