On white supremacy
On Aug. 19, white supremacists gathered once more in Hot Springs to worship their Confederate deities and further ostracize the citizens of color in our state.
I speak to the decent white individuals who read this: Please work to stop these egregious displays when-ever and however you can. I understand the fear; we watched as a counter-protester was murdered in Charlottesville. The fear is real and justified. However, the violence will only escalate until enough people stand in opposition to these hate groups.
While the Confederate rallies in Hot Springs have not brought on overt violence, I am positive that the impact on our black citizens is a form of violence white people don't understand or experience. It is our job to create a safer, more stable atmosphere for the people of color in our state. It is our responsibility to end these hateful parades of white supremacy. In fact, it is a celebration of our heritage and our great nation to shout over the voices of those who would strip other human beings of their rights.
The Confederacy is not Southern heritage; it is a sad reminder of a failed rebellion that existed to continue labeling people of color as property. Arkansas has spent too long being in national headlines for our mistakes--let's start showing the nation that Arkansas can be a front-runner in the fight for racial equality.
ERICA KRINER
Pine Bluff
Confederate symbols
The explanation offered by many people who are against taking down Confederate statues or relocating them is "It is part of our history." As a fellow Southerner and amateur historian whose ancestors in Arkansas date back to the 1830s, I would like to give you my perspective on our history.
The Civil War claimed the lives of between 600,000 and 800,000 young American men. It was a horrific, bloody war fought by young men; many were mere boys. Few, I suspect, had anything is common with the men who promoted this bloody conflict. Their recruitment was cloaked in the guise of a noble cause. Ironically, wealthy men were able to buy substitutes as did a young John D. Rockefeller. Many were conscripted into the army and forced to fight. I do not favor anything that glorifies this tragic, ill-advised war.
There were civilians in the South who literally starved to death during the war. Many who survived were forced to eat rats, earthworms and insects. Some of the men who survived the war went home maimed and crippled and were unable to help their families in the fields.
Yes, there were courageous and noble commanders. Some of their exploits almost bring a tear to my eye. On the other hand, there were also commanders like Nathan Bedford Forrest. When faced with the surrender of a black regiment at Fort Pillow, he simply murdered them. Forrest is the man credited with starting the KKK.
I admire the brave young men who fought this conflict even through I detest that senseless war. I think these men should be remembered, but perhaps not so prominently in our public places where they become reminders that divide us. Perhaps we can better honor them in our state parks, Civil War cemeteries and museums.
What about other episodes of history, such as slavery, segregation, women unable to vote, and children working long hours in sweat shops? Is any of that dark history worth preserving?
GARY W. JOHNSON
Springdale
Confusing the matter
Disclaimer: I make no pretense of being fair-minded about this issue. I recently spent a frustrating day listening to and watching the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, consisting of five members, "rubber stamp" a private-club liquor permit petition from a restaurant owner operating in a dry county. Oh, they went through a sham of a public hearing, consisting of about eight hours of pro and con testimony, but it was plain to me that their decision was predetermined. One petition from a restaurant operating in the same dry county was turned down due to a legal technically, but only because a lawyer pointed it out to the board members.
One board member read a statement of reasons (prepared beforehand, it seemed to me) for their approval. One phrase caught my attention: nonprofit organization. Nonprofit, I thought. Does that mean the owner does not mean to make a profit? After I got home, I researched the term in the Arkansas Legislature's regulations concerning the formation of private clubs. Nonprofit means by their definition that the club "members" shall not benefit from the establishment's profits. The owner(s) can make all the profits possible.
How nice of the legislators to confuse the matter. Reminds me of Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass: "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less."
So what we have is a Legislature that obfuscates; an ABC board that facilitates; a liquor industry that celebrates; resulting in dry counties that gravitate--toward "wetness." Shameful!
JOHN McPHERSON
Searcy
Good-samaritan deed
On a recent vacation trip, having gone through the quick-check line at the airport, my family and I proceeded to our assigned Delta gate for departure. After resting for a short time, our flight was called and everyone hurried to the departure door for boarding. After a beautiful flight to Atlanta and as we were exiting for a change of planes, I suddenly noticed my wallet was missing. Panic! All my credit cards, driver's licence and cash were gone.
We searched the plane over, but could not find it anywhere. When we got to our new gate, my daughters and I got on our phones and called back to Little Rock and asked for the TSA, and their personnel checked where we had passed through and then checked with our original gate people. Amazingly, they reported an item had been found and turned in, and the item turned out to be my wallet, with everything still in it.
I never knew the names of the person(s) who found the wallet, but this letter is to thank them and John Stanfort with the TSA, and his staff, for all their help. A special thanks also to a Little Rock friend, Molly Owens, who got up from her sick bed to go to the airport to pick up the wallet for me.
Little Rock is a great place to live, and we are surrounded by some awfully good, honest people. Just look around and you will see them everywhere.
DAN HARRELSON
Little Rock
Keep on believing it
Donald Trump's recent approval rating was 33 percent.
He thinks he's doing great. It's down 3 percent. Poor guy.
AL JANSSEN
Little Rock
Editorial on 08/29/2017