It's a beautiful world
My 10 most beautiful things: My sweet bride on our wedding day. My childhood home. All those wonderful Christmas trees with the multicolored lights, including all those mysterious, beautiful presents, all hiding unknown treasures.
That perfect double rainbow as I was traveling south from Little Rock around Sheridan in 1974. It was so spectacular that I actually pulled off the road for over 30 minutes while watching it.
Witnessing snowflakes as large as silver dollars in 1983 from the window of IHOP on Markham Street late one night with the girl I would soon marry. A bright full moon on a cloudless night, and those haunting nights when coming storm clouds eclipse it. A grand sunset with our scarlet sun as it slowly slid behind Pinnacle Mountain as I passed over the Arkansas River bridge. Observing the wonder of colorful crystals under the microscope along with all those tiny strange living creatures of another enigmatic world. The faces upon those at the homeless shelter of which I minister. The book about the after-death experience I published and actually held in my hands.
I could easily list another thousand beautiful things, as each of you probably could also. I want the gentle reader to just realize what a beautiful world we live in--each hour a true miracle of existence, each day a bright diamond sparkling in the infinity of time.
TOM KNIGHT
Little Rock
A breath of fresh air
Thank you so much for printing the guest column by Faith Strahan. What a fresh breath of air, well-written by one of our wonderful young people.
Suggestion: Send your personnel manager to Prairie Grove and hire this young lady to write weekly columns; print them in the column to the right. This will allow John Brummett to retire before he completely mosses over.
WILSON ROWLETT
Rogers
His pitiable comment
I have been reading John Brummett's column for many years and, for the most part, agree with what he writes. The exception was the column in the Nov. 23 paper; it appears he must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed (as my mother used to say) the day he wrote that column. I am no fan of the president, so overlooked the snide remarks he made about him and also Bret Bielema.
But I did take offense when he said that people who watch the Thanksgiving parade on TV are pitiable. Apparently he doesn't realize that to watch it in New York City would cost thousands of dollars (hotel room, meals, transportation, etc.), and the majority of people in the United States cannot afford the trip and/or have the time off work to go. I am retired so have the time, but it is not how I choose to spend my money, so I enjoy very much watching on TV and spending time with my family. But to be called pitiable because I watch on TV is just too much!
That remark reminded me of the blunder Hillary made when she called Trump's supporters "deplorable," and probably one of the reasons he is president. Oh and by the way, I also watched the dog show, so I must be really pitiable.
ANNIE MAE STAFFORD
Camden
Shun religious bigotry
The recent tweets made by the president only go to reaffirm his more than apparent xenophobia. As students of Little Rock Central who hold diversity close to our hearts, his actions are utterly disturbing.
As a Muslim student, I, Aashna Farishta, felt shame. I felt shame for our country. A country in which the followers of my religion no longer feel safe. A country in which Hijabi women have started taking off their hijabs so that they don't have to deal with the immediate stigma. A country in which bloody pig carcasses have been placed outside many of our places of worship. A country in which a mosque in Victoria, Texas, was burnt to the ground. Against all this, I, president of the Muslim Student Association, aim to spread the peace and generosity taught to me in Islam. I hope to create an image of Islam that reflects its true values of kindness and pluralism.
As a Jewish student, when I, Sydney Gastman, saw the news, I was instantly reminded of the anti-Semitic propaganda during the Holocaust. The similarities are hard to miss--the leader of the country publicly marginalizing an entire religious population, emphasizing information that depicts a group of people as a threat despite its credibility, dismissing anything that goes against the leader's agenda as fake news. We learn about the Holocaust in school so that history doesn't repeat itself. Let's apply the lessons we've learned about isolating religious groups and stand up against this upsetting level of bigotry.
AASHNA FARISHTA
and SYDNEY GASTMAN
Little Rock
We are equal to men
This is what I believe women should do--strike! On Dec. 4 onward, don't show up to work. Why should we? Not until women receive equal pay for equal work. We are not subordinates to men, whether it be in workplaces or churches. We the women are your equals, and don't forget it.
Assemble on Dec. 4, or stay home. The largest march on Washington was the Women's March in January.
Women's rights? The right to take a back seat to men, to stay home, keep the house, fix the meals, raise the children? Let the men do it for a week. The patriarchal fiasco has gone on long enough. It will be a eunuch experience.
CONSTANCE DURKIN
Fort Smith
Careful on donations
After reading Jack McFarlin's recent letter, I know exactly what he means.
I've donated for years to St. Jude's because I believe in their mission and because they do not sell your address. Then I donated to Wounded Warriors and feel like I need a bigger mailbox.
As soon as I figure out who the letter is from, I throw most of my mail away. What a waste of paper and time. I'm hoping this will stop after the holidays, but do have a big trash can so could live with my mistake.
Live and learn!
IVAN DAUBENBERGER
Springdale
Editorial on 12/03/2017