Keep the money here
Arkansas reportedly paid New Mexico State $1.35 million and Coastal Carolina $1.5 million to play at Arkansas. Nearly $3 million flowing out of our state, and neither one of them brought a lot of fans--fewer seats sold, fewer concessions, fewer people eating in our restaurants and fewer people staying in our motels. It may be over $3 million when all these are factored in.
I was so underwhelmed at the prospect of the blowout that was supposed to occur in this "powder puff" game that I didn't even bother to watch it. Imagine my surprise when I checked in late in the fourth quarter and we were close to losing. Thankfully we pulled it out. I wonder what the ratings were on it, or does that matter?
How much better if Arkansas played Arkansas State in Little Rock? The stadium would be filled every year and recruiting would be better for both schools, and the money would be spent in central Arkansas instead of sending it out of state. That's a win-win-win situation. Oklahoma plays Oklahoma State, Kansas plays Kansas State, Arizona plays Arizona State, Florida plays Florida State, etc., etc. So, why shouldn't Arkansas play Arkansas State? Politics?
Frank Broyles vehemently opposed the two state schools playing each other, but Coach Broyles is gone now, so why not put old prejudices aside and set up the schedules?
ED MERRICK
Benton
Dividing the country
Trump did not get elected just by those who liked him. He got elected by Republicans who only vote Republican; those who didn't want a woman, or another politician; those who thought he had a health plan; those who thought he would build a wall that U.S. citizens wouldn't have to pay for; and media that made his name so well-known.
People should know the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are U.S. territories, as were Alaska and Hawaii before they became states. People living there are U.S. citizens. Why would the president think it's OK to disrespect citizens of Puerto Rico by deliberately pronouncing the name wrong?
Some people are trying to teach our young people to respect others, that it's wrong to call people names, make fun of their looks, the way they dress, etc., and not to bully others. I'm tired of people making excuses for the president, saying that's just Trump being Trump when he does those things! If it's wrong for the young to do it, it's wrong for Trump.
Why the uproar over some NFL players kneeling during the national anthem? They're protesting lack of justice for blacks as promised in the pledge to the flag. They weren't hurting anyone or damaging anything. Was this Trump's way to cause a divide between blacks and whites?
MAXINE BRINK
Highland
Calamities are written
Since God controls all things, people must wonder why he allowed all those people to die in the Baptist Church.
Could it be one or all of these things? The Bible says that God does not dwell in temples built with hands. It also says we are not to have graven images. The church should look and see how many they have. There are no denominations in the Bible. Why did they worship on Sunday when Saturday is the Sabbath? And how many church members celebrate Christmas when it is not a Bible holiday?
God says if anyone adds to his word or takes away, he would add the calamities written in the word.
HERBERT PAGE
Conway
Standing at attention
Visiting relatives in Tyler, Texas, we attended Tyler's Robert E. Lee High School Red Raider football game against the Mesquite Stallions from Mesquite, Texas, just outside Dallas. It was a robust game won by the home team 50 to 21.
Prior to the game and before the teams came on the field to begin playing, the field announcer requested everyone stand for a moment of silence for our armed forces personnel. After that the announcer requested the fans of Mesquite stand and sing their alma mater. Then, as their superb band played their fight song, the Stallions rushed onto the field. Then the announcer requested the home team stand and sing their alma mater. Then, as the Red Raiders ran on the field, their excellent band played their fight song, "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee."
Then the announcer requested everyone stand and face the flag for the national anthem. All team members with their hand or helmet on their hearts stood at attention, as did all the fans until the anthem finished. There was no one requesting that the home team change their school or fight song name.
Oh, by the way, weeks earlier I attended the North Little Rock-Conway football game in North Little Rock. I arrived around 6:30 and both teams had already returned to their dressing rooms. At about five minutes before kickoff both teams came on the field long after the national anthem had been played.
Oh, and my brother in California said some Little League football players were kneeling during the anthem. Sad but not surprising. Oh well. Yea for Texas.
GORDON SWAIM
North Little Rock
Been shown the door
I enjoyed the clever "Watch Your Language" editorial about the many ways of saying you're fired, quoting Jennifer Christman. Let's hear them again. "'I was downsized, involuntarily terminated, unassigned, restructured, relieved of duties, dehired, decruited, discontinued, defunded, freed up for the future and career transitioned.' Or in short, 'fired'."
I'll add my two cents' worth. In jest I tell others that I was "let go" because of an illness. My company was sick of me.
To those who get fired: All things can work for the good to those who want to and like to work, paraphrasing scripture. I changed situations and thanks to helpful friends and generous retirement benefits from the firm that "let me go," all's well that ends well, borrowing from the title of one of Shakespeare's plays.
WILLIAM C. KRAMER
North Little Rock
Editorial on 11/18/2017