A state of regression
I weep! First my Republican governor is featured on a TV commercial bragging that he is pro-life and bragging again that he has been responsible for removing funding for Planned Parenthood, an organization that helps women with birth-control methods so that our state is not populated with unwanted children. Also, this pro-life governor within recent memory scheduled eight men on death row to be executed. Pro-life indeed.
Second, a committee of our Republican Legislature is meeting to find ways to raise taxes. One of its answers to this perpetual problem is to restore part or all of the tax on groceries. When this tax was lowered--under a Democrat governor--there was a plan to eliminate the tax altogether in a few years. We have heard nothing about that. And now a plan to raise taxes on groceries, long considered a regressive tax and one that especially impacts low-income families.
I guess with the reappearance of the Ten Commandments on the state Capitol grounds we could all gather there and pray that our leaders will join us in praying that Arkansans in positions of power follow those commandments.
DORIS SARVER
Little Rock
Address to Congress
As much as I might agree with the sentiments expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron in his address to Congress, it sounds strange coming from the leader of a country which has vigorously pursued a vive-la-France-and-to-hell-with-everybody-else foreign policy for as far back as I can remember.
I suppose we can hope that the French coq has sprouted a new set of feathers, but I certainly would not count on it.
QUINN MARTIN
Russellville
Meanwhile in birding
Like the editor of the Voices page, I too can't help but smile when I say or hear certain words. Hmmm, have you ever heard of a bird-word-nerd?
Arkansas birders have reported recent sightings of Chuck-will's-widows, Dickcissels, and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. What odd looking ducks those are! Venture a little farther afield, and you might hear a Yellow-billed Cuckoo or spy a Crested Caracara (it looks a bit like Moe Howard of the Three Stooges). Coots are abundant, and loons have been spotted on Lake Maumelle. Storks and snipe make an occasional appearance. Too bad that boobies are coastal birds--that's a funny-sounding word! Tropical birds are a real hoot--try to say Rufous-vented Chachalaca (Tobago) or Keel-billed Toucan (Belize) without smiling.
Seeing these birds (even in photos) and saying their common names will lift your mood and may just keep you out of a kerfuffle about the whole kit and caboodle that's going on in politics.
AMY HALL
Cabot
The greatest question
There is no greater ending in all literature than the divine question, "Shall I not have compassion," which remains unanswered. Its echoes are heard still in every crowded haunt of men above the stir, the noise, the wickedness, his compassion is still brooding. The Bible asked a great question, "Why do you not know you are a temple of God?" God's temple is holy, whose temple you are.
A great question facing America is how did the evangelicals get from Matthew 25 and born-again Jimmy Carter to Stormy Daniels in one generation? In the book of John, Jesus declared four times that Satan is the ruler of this world; also, the world does not hate us. The world looks upon us as its own. Jesus said it hates me because I testify that its deeds are evil. Jesus also said as the father has sent me, I also send you to make disciples of all nations.
In Revelation, God profiled seven churches that gave them results of what they were doing. He gave all a challenge: He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. You are the light of the world, the new cloth, the new wine, the sower, the mustard seed, the house built on a rock, the leaven, the pearl of great value, the salt of the earth (even when it has lost its savor and is useless), the dragnet, the labors in the vineyards, the good Samaritan, the friends at midnight, the watchful servant, the wise steward, the branch that bears fruit, and by this fruit you will know them.
BW FERGUSON
Lonoke
Truckers and safety
So there is a trucker shortage. Is that a surprise or true? No, I believe it is a pre-planned and contrived effort to lower truck rates and drive out older drivers, and then bring in non-English-speaking nor reading drivers, making the highways more dangerous.
Combine that with slower trucks, electronic logging devices with no common-sense hour-service regulations, an increase in the number of trucks to collect more taxes and licenses, and allowing shippers and receivers to operate at the expense of truckers and lower-wage workers.
I believe nothing has to do with highway safety; instead, they're more dangerous.
FLOYD HOPSON
Hazen
What’s your take?
The Voices page would like to know what you think of the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. Should it stick to its ostensible purpose of celebrating the First Amendment and handing out awards and journalism scholarships, or keep on the more controversial path it’s trod in the past several years?
If you haven’t had a letter published in the past 30 days, let us know your thoughts in 300 words or fewer, and we’ll do our best to get it in.
Editorial on 05/01/2018