Certainty's over-rated
In a recent column, Dana "kill 'em now" Kelley makes a most intelligent and persuasive argument in support of capital punishment: It will preserve law enforcement resources to solve important crimes like burglaries and auto thefts.
If we don't clog up the criminal justice system trying to determine if someone is really guilty of murder, our police and district attorneys can spend time more productively trying to convict the bad guys who stole your flat-screen TV last month. I'm surprised he didn't also mention that it frees up a prison bed for the state's next victim.
Kelley's reasoning is not unlike that of Oscar Wilde, the Irish literary gadfly, who reportedly suggested that the Irish solve their potato famine in the mid-1800s by eating the Irish babies. Problem solved. Fewer mouths to feed and more for the rest of us.
Kelley provides absolute proof of his thesis. In Virginia in 1992, an executed convict had maintained his innocence to the very end. Later, DNA evidence proved he was actually guilty. Case closed. It happened once in Virginia 20 years ago, so it must be universally true today. Nowhere does he mention the cases where DNA had the opposite result: clearing inmates on death row falsely convicted of murder because of race or poor legal representation or any combination of other factors we all know exist.
Kelley argues for clearance rates over certainty. For efficiency over conscience. He should run for public office in Arkansas; he's a natural.
DAVID ELI COCKCROFT
Little Rock
College is not for all
Does college really have to be the best option after high school? Your senior year, you will frequently get the question, "What college are you going to?" or "Have you looked at any colleges yet?" Our school system is centered around preparing us for college years. In English, we are constantly being prepped for college essays everyone talks about. But what if college isn't for you?
It seems that society places college as the best option for anyone and everyone. What if a person wants to be a welder? Or a construction worker? Or even a cosmetologist? What would be the point in attending a four-year college when beauty school can be completed within a year? Most people are aware of these options, but I've found myself dropping the options due to the feeling that the people around me will think less of me because I would not be attending a college.
I think society should stop pressuring college onto students as if it's the only option after high school years. Schools should provide a broader variety of classes centered around careers after high school. If a student plans to attend college, the prep sessions and AP training are completely applicable, but if a student wants to go into a field other than college, don't make them feel as if they will not go far in life.
Not attending college does not place you in a lower division; it just places you in a different route.
ANNA VICTORIA FRANCO
Sherwood
Keeping the Sabbath
I believe the Sabbath is still the seventh day, not the first day (Sunday). God blessed and sanctified the seventh day as a day of rest before there were Israelites or any other religion. It was for everyone. It was given to man forever. A counterfeit holy day was set up with the influence of Satan. Sunday was in honor of the sun god (thus Sun-day). This was intended to rob God of his authority as the creator of the universe.
Remember, Satan can fool even the most elect. It seems religious leaders will use any means to justify Sun-day worship. Sunday (the first day of the week) is not found in the Bible as a day of worship.
SONNY STARNES
Hot Springs
Torture of victims' kin
The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is supposed to protect even convicted criminals from cruel and unusual punishment. But this is a joke today in Arkansas.
Family members of murdered loved ones are tortured over and over for many years, even decades. They sit through a trial, and another trial, and another. Appeal after appeal. How much can these poor people endure? Their lives are interrupted, jobs are jeopardized, and all manner of torture. I believe this is criminal. And these torturers wearing black robes are definitely the devil's right hand.
Where are Christian preachers and leaders? The Book of Matthew makes it crystal clear that these hypocrites are not fulfilling God's commands. He said they are neglecting the weightier matter of the law; judgment, etc. He pointed out that these hypocrites are careful to give tithes of various incomes, but they are ignoring the most important. It seems our generation of holy men and women are tone deaf.
And in hell, the rich man lifted up his eyes and begged that a poor beggar would come just give him a drop of water to cool his dry, burning tongue.
JIM GLOVER
Heber Springs
We have a blessed life
Whilst musing at the affective level of appreciation, I find it most interesting that some of our fellow citizens enjoy the protections of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to wit: the freedom of speech; peaceful assembly; redress of grievances to a governmental entity, yet without concern or care in their heart for the despicable act of premeditated murder, which ostensibly is always planned in advance, with broad intent, and carried out willfully.
It seems these same citizens, with their fervent zeal, protest the taking of life of a multiple-convicted murderer by the state, all the while turning their eyes away from the heinous act of destroying the unborn life of another citizen. Ecclesiastes tells us "everything is meaningless." Follow not man, but follow God, as First Corinthians teaches, "so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power." Think about it!
LOUIS R. BURNETT
Little Rock
Executions deserved
Recently there have been executions of some men on death row in the state of Arkansas. These executions have made the headlines on every news channel. I think the only reason why it is such a big deal is because Arkansas hasn't had any executions since 2000. These men deserve to be dead.
Have you read the stories of what they did to innocent U.S. citizens? For example, Marcel Williams took and raped 22-year-old Stacy Errickson. Imagine what her family feels like. I'm just saying that I think the executions are what's best for them.
JOHN ROOKS
Benton
Editorial on 04/29/2017