Can we keep nation?
Between 1725 and 1775, Great Awakening was the name given to revival in the colonies. The faith of the people inspired the founding fathers to give us a government if we can keep it.
The church is on a course to reaching only 5 percent of the people. That means that of each million born, 950,000 are destined to eternity in hell. The Bible tells us that God said, "My people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways. I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes shall be open and my ears attentive to the prayer offered in this peace."
God gave us a nation; will we keep it? Sin does not keep us out of heaven. On the cross Christ took all our sin on himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the word of God. Rejecting him closes the door of heaven and opens the gates of hell.
BW FERGUSON
Lonoke
Will miss first family
The bizarre elections are over and I realize how very much I will miss the intelligence, class, humanity, humor, respect, dignity and scandal-free lifestyle that President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha have displayed while occupying the White House.
I could tell by the big, relaxed grin on Gov. Asa Hutchinson's face Nov. 9 that he and the Legislature probably think a Trump presidency has given them more power to openly discriminate. I believe the state of Arkansas is about to go further backward in time because of Trump's apparent plans to restructure the U.S. Supreme Court and rewrite the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
It is a sad day for the nation, as we watch human and civil rights become a distant, fond memory.
SHIRL STANDRIDGE
Little Rock
Reason for the system
It seems Christopher Jaeger wants to do away with the electoral college because Hillary Clinton lost. While in school he needs to brush up on the reason we have the electoral college. There is a reason the founders had the foresight to install this law.
I'm as sure as I'm writing this that if the election were just the opposite he'd have a fit if the Trump voters wanted to do away with the electoral college. Everything will be just fine.
MICHAEL PAHL
Mountain Home
So proud of Arkansas
I have been in Arkansas for 76 of my 82 years on this earth. I spent two years in the Army and four years in a northern state. I have loved Arkansas all my life, and I've been in the "basket of deplorables" most of my life.
I have never been more proud of Arkansas as when we deplorables gave the most deplorable person on earth a 60.6 percent to 33.6 percent win.
LYLE THOMPSON
North Little Rock
Was not just rhetoric
With Mr. Trump's cabinet nominations recently, it became crystal clear that his campaign rhetoric was not just rhetoric. With the selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general, and others of his persuasion, something else became disturbingly clear as well.
We can now see in the backgrounds of these small men (and yes, ladies, they are almost all men, and white men at that) the vision of America that will guide the nation's actions for at least the next four years. And it is indeed a small, white vision. The "shining city on a hill" of the Sermon on the Mount, and of the late lamented Ronald Reagan, is going to go dark for a while. Perhaps for a long while.
What Mr. Sessions and his ilk seem to envision is something more like the walled enclaves in which most of these men live--behind locked gates, guarded by men with machine guns and Dobermans. The tablet held by the lady in New York Harbor might still hint at "welcome," but it will be out of sight behind the "Keep Out" signs.
The mightiest nation on earth, made strong and resilient by the generations of waves of wretched seekers of a better life, is now huddling in fear of a gaggle of ridiculous, murderous maniacs who will now be made much stronger--although still comically weak, by comparison--by our rejection of those trying desperately to escape them. Doors are closing all over the world at a time when they most need to remain open. Fearful ethnic nationalism rises, tariff walls go up, the world turns in on itself, and the one nation that could prevent this huddles in mortal, craven cowardice behind its own doors.
The "lamps are going out," as was famously said of Europe in 1914. Perhaps we can light them again in a few years. Let us hope, and let us work together to defy the hateful darkness that's coming.
DON HATFIELD
Little Rock
Climate unaddressed
Not one of the three moderators in the presidential debates addressed the issue of climate change or food supply. Hillary Clinton understood the issue and Bernie Sanders frequently addressed the issue in his campaign. Our 20th century prophet, Al Gore, supported Hillary.
The huge subterranean reservoirs of methane in their frozen, pressurized form await the rise of the catalyst carbon dioxide, which has now risen to more than 400 ppm. Our little global greenhouse is warming. We have almost two years of record-breaking months of high temperatures. In Detroit, auto manufacturers have gone back to building big cars and trucks because we're becoming self-sufficient in oil production. If they have their way, our Republican government may decide it's time to go back to using more coal to "put people back to work."
Our country has voted against a "trumped-up trickle down" economy and will build a pipeline under the great Missouri River to imperil more of our fresh water supply.
BILL RHODES
Mountain Home
Editorial on 11/29/2016