Predictions for 2020
The following are my wishful opinions and are not to be mistaken as actual facts.
President Trump will win a second term which will mean congressional Democrats will explode into a stage of hysteria never before seen in our federal government. It will mean at least one more conservative justice will be added to our Supreme Court, who will interpret the Constitution as it was intended, for the protection of American citizens, not for illegal immigrants. The new justice will interpret it for good, as opposed to evil and ungodliness. That will mean the end of Roe v. Wade, the end of legalized murder of the unborn, and the end of same-sex marriage, the end of the "rights" of LGBTQs to parade sodomy--red-handed rebellion against God--as freedom of speech. Republicans will retake control of the House, which will mean the end of the Democrats as a viable political party unless they abandon socialism altogether, and congressional hearings will finally begin into matters pertaining to Hillary Clinton/Uranium One and alleged destruction of over 30,000 subpoenaed emails.
As the holy scriptures say, "Let judgment run down as waters and righteousness as a mighty rushing stream." Keep America great!
JACK MAYBERRY
Sheridan
The church basement
A debt of gratitude to all the friends and family who assisted me during the recovery from my life-threatening surgery. The bypass, both internal and around the Poot, are working fine; I haven't seen a librul near our town since it was installed. Next week I hope to get a traffic counter in place to know how many libruls we've re-directed.
Our church is only five years old. We built it ourselves. We poured a slab of concrete, erected the metal walls and roof, then decorated it elaborately on the inside; prettiest church in the county. One semi-observant reader asked how, since we're on a slab, can we have a basement and therefore church basement ladies. A really good question. As the men were digging the field line for the septic system, they discovered a really large hole in the ground. All work stopped as they explored this hole.
Deep down was a large room whose walls were covered with strange paintings of deer and buffalo and a few other creatures they could not identify. Swearing all to secrecy, they conspired to convert the room into their own community (men only) man cave. The plan worked well for a few weeks when a curious wife went to the church late one night and heard laughter and the sound of a ball game on TV coming out of the ground. The next night all the wives showed up, and mayhem ensued. Those who did not flee in fear walked out in abject shame. That's when the church basement ladies came to be. They took over the room, painted over the primitive cave art, had the men install all the necessary appliances, and began their cooking, canning, and judgment-passing activities.
Since the church basement ladies were ensconced in their rightful place, Possum Poot has climbed the ladder of judgment with great skill. We became, in a short while, the most judgmental place for many counties around, thus assuring us of a high place in heaven! Y'all come visit us, ya hear?
STEVE GIBSON
Little Rock
It's not mental illness
According to the American Psychological Association, mental health is not the key factor in our epidemic of mass shootings in this country. Mental illness is no more of an issue in the U.S. per capita than in other country, and they don't experience the level of gun violence we do here. Many have the same racial and economic inequalities as we do, yet there are no mass shootings.
The key difference is the easy access to and lethality of weapons sold in the U.S. When you factor in racism, intolerance and bigotry, it becomes a recipe for disaster. Social contagion is a real thing that allows the spread of thoughts, emotions and behaviors from person to person. It's been proven that only a relatively small percentage of people who commit these acts are diagnosed as mentally ill.
I would also like to add my personal observation, which is that it seems whenever there is an act of violence involving anyone other than a white, Christian male, they are labeled a terrorist, whereas a white male is deemed mentally ill. Regardless of the color of one's skin or their religion, terrorism is terrorism, and it doesn't even have to involve physical violence to be considered a terroristic act.
Many of us are in a state of denial, and that denial has become lethal and is killing thousands of innocent people at the rate of about 130 per day in this country, far more than any Middle Eastern "terrorist."
JUDITH ZITKO
Hot Springs Village
It's on plant owners
"Immigration raids sweep up 680 workers in Mississippi" says the headline in Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Who cares that the raids were "planned months ago"--regardless of the legality of these raids? My question is: Why weren't the owners and operators of the food plants where the raids occurred rounded up, separated from their families and detained without notification of their loved ones? I believe they are the real criminals here, not the people working hard to provide for their families!
What's the old adage about what is good for the goose is good for the gander?
JOHN G. COOKE
North Little Rock
C'mon, do your jobs
Tom Cotton, John Boozman, Steve Womack, Rick Crawford, Bruce Westerman and French Hill all watch from their hidey-holes while Rome burns!
MARY STOREY
Fayetteville
Editorial on 08/10/2019