Letters

Roll under, not over

To the artist who drew the picture of the open bathroom door with the op-ed "The wrong door" by Steve Arrison: The toilet paper roll is not hung correctly. I'm just saying.

DOROTHY HATFIELD

Beebe

Declared all-out war

The Trump Republicans have declared all-out war on the free press by calling any news unfavorable to them "fake news," and labeling the press "the enemy of the people." It seems they have also declared war on our democracy, war on truthfulness and honesty, and war on Christian ethics.

Our United States is changing from a democracy into a plutocracy. A plutocracy is "a country ruled by the wealthy." To wit: The billionaire cabinet of Donald Trump. The Citizens United Supreme Court ruling allowing billionaires to "buy" elections. The unwillingness of the party to recognize climate change due to the control of the oil and gas tycoons. Making it hard for ordinary people to vote. The tax breaks for the wealthy in the name of the thoroughly debunked theory of "trickle-down economics," aka "voodoo economics" (quote George H.W. Bush).

It is shameful for the Trump Republicans to call lies, dishonesty and misrepresentations "alternative facts." Their totally ignoring scientific facts and statistics puts our country at great peril.

However, most egregious is the Trump Republicans' war on Christian principles. Taking away health care from 20 million Americans who need it most, advocating building walls to separate us and excluding immigrants, stirring up racial and religious hatred, fostering fear and hatred between communities and countries, and ignoring the poor and disadvantaged is plain wrong, immoral and un-Christian. Such actions by persons in great power--legislators and chief executives alike--should be vigorously condemned by every practicing Christian, regardless of their denomination.

GEORGE H. BENJAMIN

Siloam Springs

Support for military

As the wife of a retired Army soldier, I would like to thank former first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden for being there for eight years supporting our military men and women. It was so wonderful to have these two wonder women by our side and to know someone in Washington cared enough to help where help was needed.

In 1962, my husband was drafted in the Army. After my husband decided to stay in the Army, he opened doors for other young people in our family. Our large family became a military family. I had to explain to the younger generation that the military is not for everyone. Traveling with my husband was so exciting for me and our three kids. We lived in Germany for six years. Meeting so many nice German people was so exciting, and trying to learn their language was the exciting part.

In 1963, we had to travel through Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana into Texas, something we had never done. We were on our way to Fort Hood, Texas. We did not know if we would be safe. We met a man in Mississippi because we had to get gas for our car. I must say he was a very nice man, something we did not expect. It really put faith back in us and our young son. My mother said to us, going through these different states, to take God with us. We later ended up at Fort Ord, where my husband retired.

JULIA RANDLE

Jacksonville

Negative front pages

As a Republican voter and concerned citizen of Arkansas, I find it very frustrating that your newspaper, almost without fail, displays negative stories or comments about our new president, Donald Trump.

There are many, many Republican voters here in Arkansas who voted for Donald Trump and, frankly, we are tired of seeing your paper leaning to the left on your front page. Start putting positive comments on your front page or we will stop buying your paper and tell our friends to do the same.

DENISE MYERS

Bentonville

On those core values

On the front page of Friday's Democrat-Gazette, above the headline "Trump condemns leaks," there are four unflattering pictures of the president. The article was compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports. On Page 2 under "Statement of core values," it quotes Adolph Ochs: "To give the news impartially, without fear or favor." It continues: "Impartiality means reporting ... without personal opinion or bias."

I wonder where the more presidential photos of President Trump are at. He is the president, and to depict him as a buffoon appears biased to me and many of your other readers. I would suggest a more balanced depiction of the elected president of our country.

JIM LITE

White Hall

Need active free press

Criticizing the press is nothing new in American politics. However, what we are seeing from this president and his administration is on a whole new level. While we should always hold the media to be accountable and honest, lambasting respected and credible news outlets as "fake news" simply because they are asking tough questions is not only childish, but also dangerous. Democracies need an active and free press. If the public trust in the free press erodes, then it will be a less effective check on those in power.

The president of the United States tweeted on Feb. 17 that the media is the enemy of the American people. This is not normal in functional democracies. Not since President Nixon have we seen such animus from a president toward the press, and even he saved his more colorful comments for private conversation rather than through a medium like Twitter.

If anything, President Trump should follow the example of a different Republican president, Theodore Roosevelt. President Roosevelt understood the importance, and the utility, of the press. My only fear is that President Trump will take the phrase "bully pulpit" too literally.

COLBY QUALLS

Little Rock

Editorial on 02/22/2017

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