Insulting, offensive
I am not easily offended, but I found the comic strip, Wumo, in Monday's edition not only offensive, but also insulting to my Christian beliefs. To portray the mother of Jesus Christ as a screaming, demanding new mother is unacceptable, and all Christians should be outraged as I am.
I have never seen a comic strip ridiculing any other known religion in your paper before and hope to never see one. As a Christian, and speaking only for myself, I believe that all religions have some validity even though I may not agree with their doctrine. Christianity is not a religion--it is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Please consider dropping Wumo from your comic pages--it isn't funny.
Thank you.
F. JUNE MORGAN
Austin
Common-sense laws
I am a baby boomer who grew up (poor, but safe) in the good old days. The daughter of a hunter/outdoorsman, veteran. Taught to shoot as a child on a .22-caliber rifle and pistol, which I continue to use for sport or defense.
I fully support the Second Amendment rights of the U.S. Constitution, but I see no conflict in banning sales of military-style weapons in civilian markets. Different weapons, different purposes, different markets. The founders told us how to govern ourselves. If something is running amok, we, the people, have the right, the power, and the methods to change it.
I feel so strongly about common-sense laws enforced by my parents' and grandparents' generations, eroded by my own (boomers and X-gens), with the result being mass massacres of our children in their schools and other public places. Time to change the rules back to common-sense standards. I felt compelled to speak out and support these kids who are shouting for help and change to prevent more massacres.
DEBBIE ALEXY
Fayetteville
Proud of an Arkansan
Thank you, Rex Nelson, for your excellent column about Florence Price.
As a college music instructor, I am embarrassed that I learned about Price only a few years ago though a column in this newspaper by Tom Dillard. Since then I have shared her life and music with students in my music appreciation class at Lyon College: her life because of the obstacles that she overcame as a woman of color during the Jim Crow era, and her music because it is both complex and delightful.
For readers who might want to hear a short sample of her works, go to YouTube and listen to her "Symphony No. 3," third movement. You will be proud that Florence Price was an Arkansan.
MARTHA McGINNIS HEALEY
Batesville
Presence is powerful
While in high school, I had good teachers and bad teachers. Calling them "bad" may be a little harsh, and I certainly don't mean to imply bad character, simply less effective as teachers. Some of my good teachers were laid-back and easygoing; some of my bad teachers were laid-back and easygoing. Some of my good teachers were tough disciplinarians; some of my bad teachers were tough disciplinarians. One of my "good" laid-back and easygoing teachers was a physically large, gregarious young man just out of college. One of my "good" tough disciplinarians was a short, mostly bald older man who spoke barely above a whisper.
What each possessed was a different version of what observers of the human condition call "presence." The "presence" of the affable young man was largely physical. The "presence" of the older smaller man was his aura of confidence and no-nonsense approach to his job. As different as they were personality-wise, they each exhibited care and respect for their students, and no student ever challenged either one's authority.
It would be wrong to associate this alluring quality called "presence" merely to extrovert behavior. The terms extrovert and introvert were made popular by psychologist Carl Jung about 1921, but the recognition of two distinct personalities has existed much longer. The Bible describes Jacob as a "quiet man living in tents" compared to his boisterous "man of the field" brother, Esau. But it was Jacob who had the "presence" to be chosen by God to become the progenitor of the Israelite nation.
Susan Cain sums up her excellent book Quiet--The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking with this statement about successful living: "Love is essential; gregariousness is optional."
JOHN McPHERSON
Searcy
Silence is deafening
It should be obvious to everyone by now that Russia most likely has a compromising video of Trump while he was there with the beauty pageant, or something else on him. Why else would he protect Russia and not his own country?
But he's not the only one. The silence of the Republican House and Senate is deafening. Who is standing up for us? No one, it seems.
There is no guarantee our country will stay strong and safe with this administration. No one seems to know what they're doing; it's like the Keystone Kops are in the White House. Trump runs down everything about our country, including calling the White House a dump and praising dictators. Our White House shouldn't be run like The Apprentice TV show.
This is a serious problem, folks. Our future is at stake.
VIC JOHNSON
Mount Ida
Editorial on 03/10/2018