Defend Buffalo River
I am grateful for the articles, editorials, and letters this newspaper has published recently on the need for action to defend and preserve our precious Buffalo River.
The Department of Environmental Quality says there will be a period for public comment, but has not yet announced the date. I wish to suggest one quick and easy step we can take now. Start practicing by sending a brief letter to Caleb Osborne, Associate Director of the Office of Water Quality, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, 72118.
You might also send a short but heartfelt note to the Voices page in hopes of keeping this vital matter high on the public radar.
BARBARA JARVIS
Little Rock
Too grown for that
Almost every day we hear things happening in Florida you just cannot believe. If it is not the alligators, snakes and other animals, it's the two-legged animals acting crazy.
I was born and raised east of Tallahassee on a very large farm. It was a very joyful time for me. I graduated from high school there; I also attended a vocational school there. I have nieces that graduated from Florida State and Florida A&M universities.
I went to school with some of Andrew Gillum's family members. I am really ashamed to hear the name-calling coming from the mouths of grown people like Ron DeSantis. I have to ask myself if this is the Florida I grew up in. What has happened to people who stoop so low? Is this what politics has become? Every day when you get out of bed you get closer to death. Death is for sure; politics is not.
Is it worth it to be an idiot over politics?
My husband and I left Florida in 1962 to never return; our three kids asked us not to raise them in Florida, and we did not. It is so sad to hear grown people name-calling. You have to wonder what would make a grown person say such nasty things. Every day you pray: When will all this sickness go away?
JULIA RANDLE
Jacksonville
November elections
The liberal, left-wing media and the Democratic Party are facing a formidable task this year trying to convince the voters that we should ignore all the positive things we are experiencing under the Trump administration and turn back to the Democrats who, it seems, want to repeal the tax cuts, want open borders and sanctuary cities, and want to abolish ICE and border security. They also are in favor of turning to socialism, according to several recent polls. Can you say Venezuela?
It is true that we have many weak-minded Americans who are easily manipulated into believing that good is evil and black is white, but I predict the GOP will retain their majority in the House and pick up several seats in the Senate.
GARY W. LEMON
Cabot
Playing blame game
Mr. Rex Nelson offered a bold analysis into the subconscious motivations of attendants of the 2018 Salt Bowl in his Sept. 2 piece "White flight riot." Unfortunately, it was written by a non-witness, who it seems conjured up bias where none existed.
I was present at the Salt Bowl. I am a medical student at UAMS. I proudly live in Little Rock, a stone's throw from War Memorial Stadium.
Mr. Nelson's portrayal of the events was inaccurate and hurtful. He explains the incident as merely suburban paranoia. His thesis (an unattributed quote) reads: "We heard a loud noise. This is Little Rock. So it must be a gunshot."
Trivializing chaos belittles the trauma experienced by those in attendance, some of whom may face psychiatric issues. The loss of crowd control was tremendous and rapid. Thirty thousand people were scared and clueless. Players ran and hid in bushes a half-mile from the stadium. After, I saw a community from Benton, Bryant, and Little Rock come together to help.
It should be noted: USA Today's July 2018 piece ranks Little Rock as one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Barely a year has passed from the Power Ultra Lounge shooting where 25 people were shot.
That being said, it is unfair for anyone to blame a city for the actions of a few. Instead of playing the blame game, I advise championing the importance of being good neighbors to everyone, and to never stop cheering on our cities and teams this fall.
BRADLEY SHIELDS
Little Rock
The rustling of pages
Mr. Larry Graham, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette vice president for circulation, is a persuasive man. He convinced me to switch from mail subscription to the iPad. It helped that the U.S. Postal Service was doing a lousy job of timely delivery.
An example: I received the Aug. 4 and 6 papers on Aug. 8. Where were Aug. 3 and 5? Received those, plus Aug. 7, on Aug. 9. Also July 31. Jeez!
Arkansas moves at a slow pace, but USPS moves even slower. It is hard to reconcile the time disparity. Therefore I was receptive to Mr. Graham's persuasion.
Am I happy with the current status? Only mildly so. I miss my paper: the smell, the touch and the sound of its rustling pages as I turn them. Maybe there's an app to simulate those missed sensory stimuli.
NEALUS WHEELER
Mountain Home
Editorial on 09/08/2018