Full holiday mailbox
When I wrote my letter to the editor concerning Christmas cards, I thought I was just venting about the whole situation. When "lo and behold," as my mother used to say, a man drove up to our house and said he had a Christmas card for Clara. I jumped out of my chair and thanked him. I thought that was it, but the mailbox was full the next day and the next and the next.
Over 80 cards arrived; 83 to be exact. There were notes, family photos and favorite dogs.
Most people whom I consider to be my Christmas friends put the return addresses, but there were a few who didn't, so I'd like to say "thank you" to them.
One of the advantages of answering so much mail: It has definitely improved my typing ability. Sort of.
CLARA FISHER FIELDS
Bentonville
With hand over heart
Growing up in the Pulaski County Special School District as an elementary student from 1970 to 1974, we would say the pledge of allegiance every morning, with our hands over our heart. We would hear the national anthem, while standing at attention, with hands at our sides. Somewhere along the way, people started putting their hands over their hearts during the national anthem. This is a practice left up to the individual. The big thing is to stand at attention while facing the flag.
Now people like Harriet Kleinhofs say that four legislators didn't bother to honor the flag, brought in by the honor guard, because they didn't put their hands over their hearts.
Am I missing something? Because I didn't think it was mandatory to put your hand over your heart for the playing of the national anthem; it's just something we have gradually done over time, and the mandatory hand goes over your heart for the pledge of allegiance!
CLARK E. MILLER
Little Rock
Filling void of circus
After reading the letter from Kent Goldsmith regarding all the animals in danger from the circus closing, I feel some education is needed.
Seals in the Arctic don't spend their days juggling and balancing a ball on their noses. They are more concerned with not being clubbed for their fur or being eaten by a polar bear.
Elephants are notorious non-dancers. They may sway, especially if "Baby Elephant Walk" by Henry Mancini is played.
Horses do prance, and rightly so if they beat the favorites at Oaklawn.
Perhaps Mr. Goldsmith can fill the void and learn to juggle and balance a ball on his nose. Surely that would be worth being thrown a dead fish. If he could dance like an elephant, we could put peanuts in his nose.
I'm not sure animals understand applause and laughter, as he stated.
At any rate, I look forward to his first performance. I hope there will be cotton candy.
ROB JOHNSON
North Little Rock
Disappointed in vote
Last week Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced an amendment in the Senate, the stated purpose of which was "to prevent the Senate from breaking Donald Trump's promise that there shall be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid." Specifically, the amendment states: "It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider" legislation that would result in a reduction in guaranteed Social Security benefits, increase the retirement age for receiving benefits, privatize Social Security, result in a reduction in guaranteed Medicare benefits, or result in the reduction of benefits or eligibility to receive medical assistance through a state Medicaid plan.
So how did our senators vote on the amendment? The two U.S. senators from Arkansas, Tom Cotton and John Boozman, along with all of the other Republican senators (except Susan Collins) voted against the amendment.
These programs are important to people all over the country, but they are especially important to Arkansans. I am calling our senators to let them know how disappointed I am in their vote. Here are their numbers in case you want to call them too--Sen. Tom Cotton: (202) 224-2353; Sen. John Boozman: (202) 224-4843.
MICHAEL YOUNG
Hot Springs
A right to be unkind
Recently a letter from Nancy Provost was printed on this page and in it Ms. Provost said, among other things, "Dear Hollywood, Broadway and maybe areas in between: "Some of us are very tired of your preaching to us about how horrible the election turned out" ... yada yada yada. She then asked "Who gave you the right to make your unkind remarks every time you get near a microphone" ... more yada, yada, then closes with "God bless the good citizens of America and our democracy."
I thought surely someone would have told her where those rights came from, but if so, I missed it, so please allow me. Their rights came from a precious document called the Constitution of the United States of America.
DONALD O'KELLEY
Benton
Downtime is needed
I am writing in reference to the recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial column "Vive la difference" about the "right to disconnect" law for workers in France, protecting them from being required to be at the beck and call of their employers 24/7. It states that our country is so productive because workers here are available all of the time, and that we "thrive on being eternally connected."
Is this irony? Could the writer possibly be serious? Workers do not thrive from the lack of downtime; they become anxious, over-stressed, and less productive. Their health suffers, their families suffer, and as a result, our whole society suffers.
DIANE PLUNKETT
Little Rock
Editorial on 01/21/2017