What, Trump worry?
If President Trump is innocent, why is he seemingly so worried?
As one who devotes too much time to politics, I have to ask: If President Trump is innocent, why has he done all the things he has to detract from the investigation--and why does it seem he and his minions are doing everything they can to torpedo it?
Again, as one who has watched too much TV (network and cable) and read too many articles (and several of the books-a-week that are coming out), I am aware of the reasons most of President Trump's lawyers and many of his supporters reportedly are afraid to have him questioned under oath. They (and I) know what will happen. When asked a straightforward question about something the prosecutors already have irrefutable information about, he will undoubtedly lie.
Since becoming president, Trump has been proven to have lied over 2,000 times (latest count). I don't know about you, but I would not buy a used car from him--but would from Robert Mueller or Rod Rosenstein.
JIM HAMMONS
Fayetteville
The state of education
Remember a few years back, the educated "eggheads" with all the letters behind their names, who run the current debacle called the education system in America and who have not spent time in the classroom, decided there was no need to teach cursive writing to students?
Well, as my Grandma would have said, "the chickens have come home to roost."
Last month, I was at the Revenue Office to buy the license and pay sales tax on a vehicle. A young man was there getting his driver's license for the first time. My observation was that it was likely a "Restricted License," as his mother was with him. Applications were made, the correct pages of paper were exchanged and his photo was taken. While waiting for the photo to process, he had to read and sign a form. He turned to his mother and said he did not know how to sign his name. After struggling, he had to ask her, "How do I make a cursive F?"
A few days later, I observed a young man trying to read a handwritten note that was composed in cursive. He absolutely could not read it!
Have we regressed to the point where young people will revert to "making their mark," as did the poorly educated people early in the last century? Have we devolved to the point that we cannot communicate with the handwritten word and proper grammar? Are we going to be reduced to communicate with universal signs and emojis, poor spelling and worse grammar?
My, my, my, how far we've progressed. I guess as long as we're teaching computer coding we'll be OK.
R.T. REYNOLDS
Hot Springs
Well-expressed letter
After reading part of Mike Masterson's recent give-Trump-a-chance column (couldn't read all of it without getting too upset), I knew I wanted to write a comment, but didn't quite know where to start or how to word it so that it wouldn't be too ugly.
Then my agonizing over it ended when l read Alex Mironoff's letter. My heartfelt thanks, Mr. Mironoff. Well done!
ROSE GOVAR
Maumelle
Good solutions seen
Russ Melton's March 11 guest column provided good solutions to the gun control issue. To get the needed changes, we must attack the gun issue from the Second Amendment down. I remind you that the Constitution is a living document, and thankfully so--the founders didn't address slavery, didn't give the vote to non-property owners, nor did they franchise women.
On guns: Let's drop the "assault weapons" terminology. The primary reason for gun slaughter (not gun death, a serious but separate issue) is the ability of the shooter--no, the slaughterer--to use multi-round magazines and clips that can be preloaded and carried as "spares," giving the slaughterer a nearly unlimited number of rounds to fire into the innocent flesh of his human targets.
So, put all of the fixes to gun slaughter into law. Train teachers, retired cops, veterans? You bet, but that doesn't protect crowds from the slaughter of military-style weapons. Outlaw all weapons in the "assault weapon" and the "semiautomatic" categories? Sure, but before the ink has dried the arms industry will come up with new multi-round innovations. Enhanced background checks? Of course, but make the buyer pay the added cost for the local, state, and national agency checks required. And legislate and enforce longer wait times while the enhanced background checks are run--agencies don't have the resources to meet a "get-it-quick" deadline.
Meanwhile, plan to march with and protect these great kids as they work for the changes we want and the country needs. A multifaceted approach, including a "repair and replace" fix to the Second Amendment itself, will force the NRA to burn money while we use the renewable energy of our resolution to fix this, and let's start now. This old Republican can't again endure the heartbreak of semiautomatic slaughter. Can you?
CLIFF HARRISON
Hot Springs Village
Problem of violence
I applaud the young people who are trying to address the problem of violence in our schools, although I'm not sure it should be done on school time. However, there are questions they should ask themselves, namely: Have you ever bullied anyone; have you witnessed someone being bullied; if so, what did you do about it; have you ever seen someone who you thought was friendless or in emotional distress and did you do anything to help them?
To counselors, psychiatrists, school resource officers: If something or someone has been called to your attention, what did you do about it?
To our legislators: Assault weapons are just that--for assault. Get rid of them. Change the age to 21 for buying guns of any kind. Tighten up regulations and background checks.
Our world is becoming a scary place. Be kind to one another.
JUDY JONES
Hot Springs Village
Editorial on 03/22/2018