Respect differences
Re the letter by Ms. Sabrina Butler on the "emotionally weak" modern generation: Firstly, let me say that I am sorry that you seem to think so little of us millennials. You seem to be under the impression that we are nothing but crybabies. Pardon me if, as a member of this generation, I find some offense at this statement.
While some of the public schools are offering safe spaces, it is not without good reason. This election, there has been an excess of venom and anger directed toward both political parties and people. Excuse us if some of us are concerned, in the chance that anger turns to violence, that they are safe. Surely you want that for us?
My high school--you may have heard of it--Little Rock Central High School, is famous for its integration and acceptance of different viewpoints, and I am proud to attend it. I cannot name one person I consider lazy. Many of us campaigned for months for the candidates, making hundreds of phone calls in the hope of swaying voters and spending the whole of Election Day at our respective campaign headquarters. We're not weak. We just express our emotions--happiness, sadness, anger, and euphoria--a little more openly than your generation.
Yes, we're different than you. Call it a generation gap. But, please, if at all possible, respect our differences. What worked for you might not for us, and times change. We welcome your advice--but not your anger.
ALEX CRAWFORD
Little Rock
On shifting loyalties
I remember watching the "Ice Bowl" in 1967 with my dad. He was a die-hard Dallas fan and I loved the Packers. At least I did until Dallas took a 17-14 lead early in the 4th quarter.
Thinking they would surely win, I immediately said no, I want Dallas to win. Of course my 10-year-old fickleness reared its head again when my "real" team came back and won when Bart Starr plowed into the endzone with 13 seconds remaining, giving the Pack the victory.
I didn't realize it then, but I had a lot in common with several of today's politicians. Wonder what will happen when their "real" team wins. I was only 10; I think they are a little older than that.
DANNY DUREY
Rison
Belongs to all citizens
Donald Trump is not my president. The United States of America belongs to all citizens of America. I believe Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a winner; she will always be our champion. The 42nd president, William Jefferson Clinton, and the 44th president, Barack Hussein Obama, are my favorite presidents.
After this last election, there has been a rise of children harassing and taunting other children at school based on their ethnicity; I believe this is proof that racism is taught. We should be teaching them kindness, not hatred. Also, black power and white power is just a power struggle between two tribes that never win because there is only one power in the universe, and that is God's power. May peace be with you all.
MARQUITA J. CORBIN
Conway
Wake-up call executed
I wrote a letter to the paper a few months ago saying I hope Donald Trump wins as a wake-up call to these politicians. I believe he woke them up to the fact that if they don't stop fighting each other and do the job they were elected for, there are non-politicians like Trump who are going to win as president, and in the Senate and House. Donald had some of these Republicans running away from him like roaches running under the stove or behind the refrigerator when a light is turned on.
Some of the people who didn't support Trump are mad as the gator was when the pond went dry. I believe Trump didn't intend to win the election. This might be God's way of punishing him for how he uses people and the Republicans' punishment for how unfair they've been to President Barack Obama, like Mitch McConnell saying his main job was to make sure President Obama didn't have a second term. When he did, it seems the Republicans did everything in their power to try to make him fail. This might be the Democrats' punishment for how unfair they've been to poor people.
Some black people voted for Trump. They think Republicans are the party for black people because Lincoln freed the slaves. I heard the reason he did so was because the North was losing the war and he needed somebody to fight like the Buffalo Soldiers did.
HENRY GOODLOE
Pine Bluff
The relativity of time
Remember when you were young and time seemed to crawl by? You wondered if you would ever grow up. Somewhere around 65 or so, suddenly time started passing way too fast. We were getting old, ready for Social Security and Medicare.
Well, I'm there and way past it. In October I had my 84th birthday. That was before the election when I was sure my team would win.
My team did not win and now I find myself hoping the next four years fly by and I can survive to vote again for my team!
PAT HUDSON
Conway
Work together on this
After winning the election Donald Trump spoke to the crowd and asked Americans for suggestions.
Here's mine: With health-care costs and premiums still rising, we might really need to replace the Affordable Care Act with something more sustainable. Such a big job would require Americans to work together. But, as it stands now, we are too divided, right against left, Democrats against Republicans. It would probably be better to start with something less complicated, something most all Americans could agree on.
How about getting rid of two laws: the 1987 law banning the re-importation of prescription drugs, which is like putting a tariff on ourselves, and the law from 2003 prohibiting Medicare from bargaining for the best price on pharmaceuticals as all the big companies do? These laws hurt Americans by allowing drug manufacturers to charge us outrageously inflated prices for medicine.
These laws are still on the books because not many members of Congress--on either side of the aisle--are willing to risk their jobs by speaking out against the powerful drug lobbies, at least not without a good deal of prodding.
So, I suggest the president-elect ask Americans to call their representatives in Washington--doesn't matter if they're Republican or Democrat--to encourage them and demand that these two laws be abolished.
If enough people call over the holidays, the new administration could fix this part of the problem right away without a lot of messing around. And after experiencing success by working together we might feel empowered to look more squarely at some of our bigger challenges. Peace out.
OWEN REIN
Mountain View
De-federalize schools
Ever-increasing erosion of local control of public schools not only undermines the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but also facilitates bribery and blackmail of states with federal funding and regulations that even dictate that men can use women's locker rooms and play on girls' sports teams.
The fight against Common Core exposed the failures of a federally based one-size-fits-all curriculum on states and local school districts. Today, the federal government is controlling local curriculum through high-stakes testing mandates.
Control. That's what it's all about. Not your child. And they have control through their federal dollars, even though for most districts it's just a tiny share of the overall budgets.
Help de-federalize the learning environment by joining United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) as I have. Their goal is to end federal involvement in education and restore local control.
Please go to uspie.org and join the movement to Stop Fed Ed and restore local control in education. We have a local Arkansas chapter. Please visit our ARPIE Facebook page.
MARY ADKISSON
Greenbrier
Editorial on 11/25/2016