What did we expect?
To erase Nazism and its evil twin anti-Semitism, my generation endured bumbling military in North Africa, agony at Anzio, terror from steel sleet on D-Day, and misery in the Italian campaign, Hürtgen Forest, and the Bulge. Some of us died in those places. Others were wounded, and most of the wounded and others who fought there have since died.
To honor all those in graves, one would expect that the present president of the United States would make a clear, unambiguous statement explicitly distancing himself and the political process from those who are or would become Nazis or anti-Semites.
Perhaps those of our generation who served in the military and are still here expect too much.
OTTO HENRY ZINKE
Fayetteville
President was wrong
Donald Trump is a failed president. I say this because of his analysis of what happened in Charlottesville, Va. He said both sides were to blame? White supremacists, Nazis, fascists on one side and on the other side protesters opposed to their vile view of how our country should be. Can we assume that Trump really can't see the difference?
He may go on to create good jobs for American workers, he may improve our nation's infrastructure, he may even improve our economy. But if Trump feels comfortable aligning himself with those who openly distrust and hate Jews, blacks, Hispanics, immigrants, and all people of color, he has it wrong.
As president, his job is to serve and protect all the citizens of these United States from those who are hatemongering, bigoted and racist. Trump failed to see the difference between those two groups. He has failed as president.
BILL FARRELL
Bella Vista
A modest composer
Kudos to Philip Martin for his masterful piece on Randy Newman in Sunday's paper. I was reminded of a delightful story Newman told on the Johnny Carson Show back in the middle '70s.
Always modest and self-effacing, apparently even at home, he quietly composed during his early years at his grand piano in a quiet comer of his living room.
One day, as Newman told it, his young son raced in with exciting news. "Dad, you ought to hear this funny song I just heard on the radio! And it was written by someone that has the same name as you!" Newman asked him the name of the song.
"Short People!"
JANET HILL
Fairfield Bay
A tribute to Broyles
Wow--what a man! Sixty years ago, Frank Broyles felt the lure of Arkansas and adopted it as his home state. But as we all know, the big winna was the people of Arkansas.
Imagine the best qualities of Vince Lombardi, Billy Graham, and John Wooden all rolled into one beautiful soul. Frank Broyles became the pride of Arkansas, and his years as coach, athletic director and ambassador of our great state comprise the legendary glory days of Razorback athletics.
He was one of a kind and indeed lived a '"charmed life." His legacy lives on in his family and the thousands of lives he touched.
ROGER MARSH
Little Rock
Political aspirations
I have decided to run for public office. I don't have any political experience, so I'll start small and run for president of the United States, or maybe empress or queen.
But a lot of cranky people think I shouldn't do this. People who think they're smart (but aren't) say I have a serious personality disorder and call me a "narcissist." They say I am delusional, juvenile, mean, jealous, petty, vindictive, dishonest, incompetent, dangerous and totally lacking in empathy or sympathy or one of those "-mpathies." (They toss those fancy degrees around like poker chips so just about anyone can get one, so "lah-dee-dah.")
I'm very attractive and on a scale of one to 10 I'm easily a 13. I'm smart, successful, have tons of money and a lot of cool stuff that you don't have. I know everything there is to know about ruling people and running countries. I never read the Constitution of Independence thingie because it's boring and has too many big words that they wrote a long time ago and nobody cares about now anyway. I think other countries are dumb because they don't have me in charge of them.
If I win, I can promise you all kinds of things. I can do anything you want--easy peasey--and I can do it fastly, right after lunch on my first day.
Vote for me because I'm just what you've been waiting for. And remember, I know where you live.
LINDA A. FARRELL
Bella Vista
Our higher teachings
Wisdom's teachings are there for us. We've had them for quite some time. Love one another. Have compassion and help those in need. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Money and physical possessions don't bring true happiness. Take care of the planet and all its life forms. Beware of hatred, greed, and questing for power, prestige, and fame. Despite knowing these things, we struggle to follow them.
Current events suggest we are possessed by a dark, destructive side of human nature--what Carl Jung called the shadow--albeit some of us more than others. Jung hoped human consciousness would evolve, but he feared it might not happen fast enough to save us from self-destruction. The hatred, bigotry, violence, greed, selfishness, lying, and wanton materialism in our country are the very things about which Jung worried. I believe they are embodied in the man we elected president, but he is not alone. Many of our leaders don't represent what is best in humanity, but what is most vile.
Still, I do know a great many people who are loving, kind, compassionate human beings who embody those higher teachings. They do not follow the way of Trump. In them I recognize our growth in consciousness. We are evolving. But will it be soon enough?
GARY TOUB
Eureka Springs
How to describe him
There are no decent words to describe this person that sits in the White House.
I've called him a traitor; I believe he proved that on Tuesday. So this time "despicable" seems to fit.
CHARLIE ISGRIG
Pine Bluff
Editorial on 08/18/2017