Letters

He found home here

I'd like to thank the people of Little Rock and Arkansas all over for providing a home for Townsend Wolfe, where he could sink some roots and flourish in ways he never could otherwise.

When we moved to Little Rock in 1968, it was Townsend's intention to stay for four or five years and then move on, back to the New York area probably. That never happened, and it never happened because of you. Here he found love and stability he had not found anywhere else, and those two things allowed him to slow down, stop, plant and grow.

He loved Arkansas! He loved the purity of soul he found here--people interested in learning to see life through line and space and color and loving what they learned. He loved the freedom you gave him to collect beautiful works of art so that everyone could have a chance to experience what life was like through wonderful works on paper. His work made you happy, and he adored that. Your response to his work made him happy. How I thank you for that!

Because of his brilliance, because he was the rarest of creatures--an artist who can also administrate--he could have gone anywhere he wanted. But he wanted to stay here, with you. You made him safe, you made him grow, you loved him, you rejoiced at his work.

I can never thank you enough. God bless you.

JANE WOLFE

Little Rock

Two interpretations

President-Elect Donald Trump's behavior in the last couple of weeks has progressed from bad to worse to positively terrifying.

We are now faced with a situation to which the optimistic interpretation is that DJT is simply an idiot. That is, he simply does not possess the intellectual capacity to appreciate the highly complex and nuanced relationship between the Western alliance and the Russians. The increasingly likely alternative explanation is that he has been compromised in some fashion by the Russian intelligence community and is now operating as an active resource in the interests of Putin's kleptocracy.

Many patriotic Americans voted for this man, and I believe they are being betrayed on a daily basis.

RICHARD AULT

Maumelle

The business at hand

To the few elected officials who say they won't attend our President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, I say you should put aside your personal feelings and rethink your decision out of respect for this great Jan. 20th event.

You should be proud to represent your state even though you didn't get your way (reminds me of children arguing), and remember, surely, as you were elected you could be replaced by a more mature person.

Don't be a part of a new divide. For sure, we never agree 100 percent with anyone elected, but it's time to move along toward business at hand and give Mr. Donald Trump a chance to make America great again.

PATSY MAYS

Malvern

Thoughts on thinking

Auguste Rodin depicted his famous bronze sculpture called The Thinker sitting with his chin resting on his hand in an appearance of deep thought. It is said that Gautama, or Buddha, spent six years doing little else except sitting and thinking before his so-called "enlightenment" came to him, which might be summed up in two words: want less, which is pretty much the same philosophy taught by others such as Jesus and Thoreau. Some enlightenment! Personally, I think a brisk walk is more conducive to clear thinking than just sitting.

Professor of psychology Daniel Kahneman, in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow, divides our thinking process into two systems. System 1 is, in my words (not his), our knee-jerk reactions to events. Thinking that is, in Kahneman's words, automatic, with little "voluntary control" such as detecting "hostility in a voice." System 2 requires mental effort such as monitoring "the appropriateness of your behavior in a social situation" and requires a little time to kick in.

Unfortunately, deadly conflicts happen all too often where, it seems to me, one or more participants never get out of System 1. I believe this gives new credence to the old adage, "count to 10 before you act" or react. Possibly that was what Jesus had in mind when he told his followers to turn the other cheek. In other words, be willing to take a second blow to give System 2 time to kick in.

If only more people would learn this technique, maybe, just maybe, there would be fewer headline-grabbing tragedies.

JOHN McPHERSON

Searcy

Better 'tax-free' ideas

Really? Is state Rep. Bart Hester seriously suggesting a tax-free weekend for the sale of guns and ammunition to "encourage the sale of" such?

Seems way too personal of an agenda to me. Not to mention potentially harmful considering it will be somewhat of a celebration of firearms, which this nation clearly does not need.

Why not think about the masses, Mr. Hester? If you are thinking tax-free weekend, how about something that benefits all or most citizens, not your select few? How about a tax-free weekend for, say, baby diapers and formula? Maybe one for those with home-repair needs? Perhaps you'll open that door to medical supplies?

I can think of a whole host of tax-free weekends to consider that will help so many. If you'd care to collaborate, give me a call as my mind is clearly much more wide open to the needs of the majority of Arkansans than yours, Mr. Hester.

RHONDA J. PATTON

Roland

Kick back, enjoy ride

If Mr. Trump's appointees are any indication, his administration will be as much fun to watch as Teapot Dome.

JOEL BUCKNER

North Little Rock

Editorial on 01/19/2017

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