Pronouncement vexes
In John Stonestreet's essay recently regarding the cake-shop case, he presumed to speak for all Christians in writing, "Christians understand that homosexual behavior ... destroys the body and the soul."
I found this blanket, rigid pronouncement troubling on many levels. He is as entitled to use biblical interpretation as I (and millions of like-minded Christians are) to another view of the Bible. Christians' interpretations are even more diverse than the many denominations within it, and no one mortal may speak for all.
Lots of behaviors can destroy the body and soul, heterosexual and homosexual (I call it human behavior). Sanctimonious piety, unkindness, and lack of understanding might also fit within that category.
Jesus benevolently continues to herd his lambs while some of his people keep trying to corral kittens.
ANN HATLEY
Little Rock
Skip that if it offends
It is somewhat amusing but also sad that some people do not realize the only way the Voices page of this newspaper can stay unbiased and neutral is allowing readers with different views and columnists with different opinions to express themselves.
Since we are not a homogeneous society with the same political views or religious beliefs or the same life experiences, we are not going to agree with everything in these pages. But, hey, that is the way it is supposed to be. Otherwise it would be all conservative voices or liberal voices, etc., and I don't think that is what we want. Therefore, read what you like and skip the ones that get your dander up and move on!
ROSE GOVAR
Maumelle
Of forbidden people
It is 1938, and Mother and I were visiting our German relatives for the last time before World War II. In 1934 the family voted with our feet and made New York City our new home. Dad was a wanted man, but since sippenhaft laws were not on the books until later in World War II, Mother nevertheless was careful in what we talked about.
At the time I was 7 and just starting to read. I noticed a sign on a restaurant door: "Juden verboten." I asked Mother who were these Juden that were forbidden. Mother gave me a stern look and whispered, "Später," meaning we will talk about it later. It was it not something we could talk about in public.
Fast-forward 80 years to the Red Hen restaurant in the good old USA. It turns out Republicans are verboten.
A.W. KAHLER
Little Rock
Cannot hold them all
What would have happened if all the people who did not follow Hitler had left Germany? The nations in Europe, Russia, the U.S. and others joined together to fight Hitler and his followers so Germany could be a free nation.
Why do the people flowing into the U.S. not stay in their countries and ask for help to fight the drug lords and corrupt government in their home country so they can raise their children in their own culture and homeland? The U.S. will not be able to hold all the people of Central and South America who don't like their lives there. The U.S. has a drug problem also, so those people coming here are not getting away from the drug lords or corruption.
People need to stand up to the bullies, period. People need to get right with their maker--God.
Another option is for each protester who is against the immigration law to take in five to 10 immigrants--house them, feed them, get medical care for them, school for children, and a church.
Another option is for the U.S. to buy land in border states and fence it in. The alien men and male teenagers can help build the housing for them, the women can do the cooking for all, and teenage females can care for the children. All the people can grow gardens and tend chickens for their food. The protesters can provide other food items. Have some type of work for the illegals to do to provide funds to run the place.
Another option--do the legal way. Go to the U.S. embassy in their home country and apply for asylum.
If someone breaks into your home, what do you do? Call the police? Why?
BERNICE BINGHAM
Hensley
She deserves better
Re removing Laura Ingalls Wilder's name from literary award, anyone who has read Mrs. Wilder's books would agree that she has contributed greatly to our understanding of the trials and tribulations faced by the early settlers of this country. From her stories we have experienced travel by covered wagon and living in a log cabin, to teaching in a small schoolhouse in the middle of the winter, to facing the hardships of drought and fire and losing your baby son and then starting a new life in Missouri.
She was always polite and generous in her writings. She often mentioned that Dr. Tan saved her family's life when they all were sick from the "ague" (now the flu) and that a Native American leader convinced his group not to attack the settlers in their area. She had nothing but good to say about any group. To take her views in the 1930s when her books were written and hold her to today's political correctness is unfortunate.
I'm sure she would be embarrassed and upset to know that the American Library Association is taking her name from the Children's Literature Legacy Award. She never wanted this accolade in the first place back in 1954. And now to dishonor her in this way when she is not here to defend herself is unfair. She is one of our pre-eminent women authors and to dismiss her in this way is doing her an injustice. Laura was born in 1867. The different Wilder sites celebrated her 150th birthday last year in 2017.
I believe we need to let history be history and let it speak for itself. Let the future learn from the past ... not "change" the past, but learn from it and move on. Laura herself apologized long ago for anything in her books that might have offended anyone. So let's read her books in the context that they were written in and revel in the history, not try to erase it. Laura deserves better than that.
MARSHA HEIEN
Stuttgart
Editorial on 07/07/2018