Letters

Representative of few

Recently Mr. Philip Martin said that a "frequent correspondent" seems to submit to certain views, among them that God sent Hurricane Harvey to drown the gays.

If that were true, God would be pretty inefficient. Last I heard, fewer than a hundred folks were drowned, a small percentage of whom were likely gay.

Mr. Martin's correspondent does not represent very many thinking Christians. Remember, Jesus said, "God makes it rain on the just and the unjust."

FRED SAWYER

Little Rock

Cussing's not abusive

This whole concept of "using profanity" just flat-out baffles me and it annoys the hell out of me. Cuss words are no more or less than other words, a million words out there ... I cannot comprehend why people get so bent out of shape over so-called foul language. People can cuss around me all day long. I don't care. I don't get it. It's such a small issue to me that I get tired of hearing people act as if they're oh so offended by the use of certain words that they deem offensive.

People who can't handle cussing should not be working with people who are at risk or in crisis mode or the like. If you are such a wiener that you think cussing is abusive, then you absolutely should not be working with the general public; you belong in a nursery around plants or babies who can't speak at all, and you surely do not know what abuse really is.

Cussing is not abusive, so grow a pair. Or change your line of work. Please do not work with people who might get excited and spout off. You're just making it harder for everyone if you're that much of a kitty.

MARIANNE BEASLEY

Fayetteville

He gave man free will

I want to respond to the letter from Paul Christ, "Created in his image." Yes, an all-knowing, compassionate and loving God did create a world where many kill each other. We read in Genesis that God created the world and six or seven times said, "it is good."

Next he created man and woman and placed them in the perfect garden. Then he did something that has baffled and confused us. He gave them their own free will to love or hate, obey or rebel, do right or do wrong. Now the monkey is on our backs, so to speak.

What are you going to do with your free will? Why would anyone not want to serve a God that is all-knowing, compassionate and loving?

PHYLLIS FARISH

Bella Vista

Sentence not justice

Re Daniel Wall: How sad such a light sentence was given for such a heinous crime of child-stalking, just because the person was a former police officer. What kind of justice was this? Just because he was a former police officer? If anything, I believe he should serve some prison time.

Such plea-bargaining only encourages such crimes with the knowledge of only light sentencing by law enforcement.

ELAINE BURKS

Little Rock

Some favorite words

It was wholly a pleasure to see Michael Storey use one of my favorite words, "sesquipedalian," in his Saturday "Otus" column when he wrote that he is "an avowed and gifted sesquipedalian." I like the word despite the difficulty in working it into any conversation that involves sports (or nearly any other subject). I believe, however, that it would serve the University of Alabama well to change its team name to the "Sesquipedalians" to create the illusion that the school exists for purposes other than football.

Back when I was a productive member of society as a college history instructor, I had for many years a message on the bulletin board outside my office that read "Sesquipedalians eschew obfuscation!"

I wrote it in all capital letters in the current tradition of emphasizing the seriousness of a particular subject by doing so. When students inquired as to its meaning, I would cruelly suggest that they could look it up. The students would then forget that they had devices in their pockets that could quickly accomplish that objective.

"Sesquipedalian" is an adjective, not a noun, thus making Mr. Storey and me guilty of incorrect usage. Both of us should be subjected to a sesquipedalian lecture regarding the correct use of the English language.

My favorite word back in 2011 was "septaquintaquinquecentennial," which I was able to use in class briefly as Arkansas was celebrating its 175th anniversary as a state. My favorite word now is "retired."

ED CHESS

Little Rock

Just dividing country

Our Constitution calls for one Senate and one House of Representatives. Regarding the matter of the "aisle" I find no evidence that it is anything other than something our early legislators established as a first step toward dividing this country. We are now experiencing the penultimate level of that division. The next step will be another civil war.

Before that happens, I strongly recommend the following: Let's eliminate the aisle.

Early in our development, Congress decided to name our nation the United States of America. Since then, generations of divisive partisan politicians have engaged in a continuous struggle to demonstrate anything other than unity. There must always be debate. But to cluster in organized groups, plotting the defeat of those who don't agree, like opposing sides of a football game, is counter-productive.

Let's eliminate the aisle. Distinguished guest speakers and the POTUS can enter through a door behind the podium.

Let's eliminate the aisle. Assign seats in each chamber randomly throughout--but making sure that, to the extent possible, members from each party are flanked by members of the opposite party. Who knows, these folks just might get to know each other.

If you disagree with this, you are obviously pleased with the direction our country is headed.

JOHN E. McCOWN

Hot Springs Village

Born every minute ...

Don't be a sucker. Say "no" to straws.

Straws are for suckers.

BARRY THOMAS

Fayetteville

Editorial on 09/07/2017

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