Their agenda of hate
Do Confederate statues and flags have a place in our society today? Absolutely!
Those painful reminders of losers (sorry, but the South's Confederacy lost the Civil War) belong in museums, not public parks or elsewhere.
Why is anyone shocked at Donald (gold-plated) John Trump's apparent support for the white supremacists' agenda of hate? Daddy dearest Fred Trump reportedly was arrested in 1927 in New York City for his alliance with the KKK. The rotten apple didn't fall far from the tree.
The man in the Whites-only House (but he doesn't like it there, reportedly describing it as a "real dump") is morally incontinent. He is the elephant in the room who, it seems to me, is a great success at making America hate again. More violence to come soon.
CONSTANCE DURKIN
Fort Smith
Not history for some
The Confederate flag was not flown over state capitols much until after the Brown v. Board of Education decision. It was a direct response to protest court-ordered desegregation, not to promote our "Southern culture."
Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens stated that "The new [Confederate] constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating questions regarding our peculiar institution--African slavery as it exists amongst us--the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization ... the negro is not equal to the white man; ... slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition."
Texas, in its declaration of causes impelling secession, said that "the servitude of the African to the white race within her limits ... should exist in all future time."
The war was not a romantic rebellion to protect righteous and honorable fundamental beliefs. It was a rebellion to protect indefensible practices and beliefs of many people, even if they fall under the guise of "states' rights."
A poll in 2011 revealed that less than half the people in Mississippi and North Carolina and slightly more than half of Georgians were happy the North had won the Civil War, which seems to indicate that way over half of whites in those states would have preferred to see white domination continue in some form or the other. A 2005 poll showed that over 20 percent of people in Georgia, North Carolina and Mississippi still believe that interracial marriage should be illegal.
While a significant portion of Americans, including my own northern born and raised father, believe that Confederate monuments and symbols should be remain in prominent places as historical markers for the nation, a frightening number of other people believe that they should be left as markers to support their views of white supremacy, bigotry, hatred and violence.
JEFF BAKER
Bentonville
When we were wrong
A principal I once worked for was loved by the kids and ran a very tight ship with few problems.
Like Mr. Trump, he was never wrong.
One day I was asked to pick up some supplies for the school and place them in the storage room. Later that day he charged into my office, red-faced and screaming, "you did not get those supplies!" I pleaded that I had, but to no avail.
A short time later he returned, calm and smiling, informing me that someone cleaning in the small storage area had moved the items to the back.
Expecting that apology, he smiled and said, "Lee, we were both wrong."
LEE BUXTON
Little Rock
Condemn messages
I have had my issues with Steve Womack in the past, but I applaud his remarks concerning the events in Charlottesville. He made it clear that any "organization that espouses that type of rhetoric or that type of hate speech or action is unacceptable in this society." Those organizations, he said, include the KKK, white nationalists, white supremacists and anti-Semitics.
Other voices in Arkansas need to speak out. John Boozman reportedly was playing golf at one of the Trump resorts, and Tom Cotton was traveling around, again, avoiding his constituents. They need to speak out, and strongly, to condemn those who carry messages of hate and bigotry.
GRACE WATT
Springdale
Address critical issues
If black lives mattered, we would spend whatever it takes to resolve the issues that result in extraordinary crime rates in clearly defined minority neighborhoods in Little Rock and elsewhere.
I believe the biggest Republican lie is that we can't afford to adequately address critical issues such as crime and punishment, courts and justice, health care, mental health, poverty, education, safe and efficient transportation, scientific research, immigration reform, global warming and environmental protection among others. The lie says we must spend what little we can spare on weapons, which is already more than the next dozen or so countries combined spend.
Consider also the following. Reducing legal immigration, especially of unskilled workers, equals increasing illegal immigration. Rejecting Muslim refugees from wars where we contribute to the killing and destruction is cowardice, above all, but also religious intolerance and stupidity. Vetting all but guarantees refugees are good citizens.
If Lady Liberty could swim, she would be back in France. A real-life gilded Daddy Warbucks is the current, but temporary, symbol of America.
A solid economic foundation in the U.S. and abroad is the engine of current economic growth.
Governments that consider a free press an enemy: Russia, Argentina and the United States, to name a few.
Leaking military secrets is one thing. Leaks about Trump staff backstabbing are another. Putin election meddling is yet another.
Republican tax reform means the rich pay less.
Trump tweets about Charlottesville were smart. He can't afford to lose a single bigot from his base.
HOWELL MEDDERS
Fayetteville
Change poses danger
I am a member of the Arkansas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I am worried that people do not know what is about to be legal in our state.
On Sept. 1, 2017, a new law goes into effect in Arkansas that makes several dangerous changes to our gun laws. Among other changes, the new law allows concealed handguns to be carried in several places where it was previously against the law for civilians to carry them. The new law allows concealed handguns into certain private establishments--including those that serve alcohol.
Guns and alcohol don't mix. There is strong evidence that people under the influence of alcohol are at an elevated risk of violent behavior, including gun violence.
I have spoken to many business owners who were not aware that this change is coming. I want Arkansas business owners to know that they are free to make the choice about guns on their private property. Any private business owner, including those who own or operate establishments that serve alcohol, can prohibit the concealed carry of handguns by posting a sign, clearly readable from at least 10 feet away, stating that "carrying a handgun is prohibited."
EVE JORGENSEN
Little Rock
Editorial on 08/28/2017