Place focus on history
My wife and I recently toured the towns and villages of Belgium that were celebrating the 75th anniversary of World War II's Battle of the Bulge. We were so impressed by the history knowledge of these Belgian people regarding their country, and particularly how they honored the American soldiers that fought for freedom for the entire world.
I compare their knowledge of how freedom has been achieved to that of our present-day students in our country; I conclude that we fall short.
I am thinking how wonderful it would be if our state and local leaders would initiate a one-week focus in our schools on the history of freedom in our country. We must understand why we are a free democracy and how it was achieved.
We must also understand our mistakes made along the way so they will not be repeated.
How best to achieve this than place a focus on the history of freedom in America for one week?
HOWARD FIKES
Benton
Best part of my day
I was very very upset when you made the decision to stop daily paper delivery except on Sundays. All my adult life, the first thing I do is get your newspaper off the front porch and read it cover to cover. I am 73 years old and a lifetime resident of Arkansas. The morning paper is the very best part of my day and the most peaceful time.
I have traveled all over the country and buy an out-of-state newspaper each morning when traveling. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the best newspaper I have ever read, and that includes papers in Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, New Orleans and many other large cities. While I am not an authority on journalism, I have written and published one book, along with over 100 medical articles.
That is why I was especially upset I would no longer receive your wonderful printed paper each morning. However, I can understand home delivery of printed news is not economically profitable. I even suggested to a friend of mine that you raise the annual subscription rate to $1,000. I'd pay it, but most probably wouldn't.
I went to my lakehouse in Hot Springs on Labor Day weekend, but there was no Democrat-Gazette anywhere. My daughter linked me up to Arkansas Online as a last resort.
I never thought in a million years anything could take the place of my morning paper. I was wrong. You have hit a grand-slam home run with your online newspaper, in the exact same order and the same good journalistic reporting. I am an old-codger newspaper reader addicted to printed paper who you have amazingly converted to online news. You will be successful in converting the other old print addicts to online news and therefore have greater profitability.
I know it was a big gamble to make this decision, but you hit the jackpot. Congratulations!
GENE GRAVES
Little Rock
Soil beneath our feet
I loved "The good earth" by guest writer Carol P. Williams, and would love to read more about the Arkansas County experiment to restore the microbes in the soil.
We are blessed to live in Arkansas ... for many reasons. Keep up the good work!
M.V.W. CRIPPEN
Fayetteville
Remember the day
There's an old saying that one remembers where they were and what they were doing when a catastrophic event occurs. To some degree that's true since I remember where and what when President Kennedy was shot, where and what when Martin Luther King was shot, and the same during the Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy. These events and others are vivid memories that I would rather not have.
In today's world, it seems that tragedy is just around the corner, with all the local and national shootings that are too numerous to keep track of and too sad to hold in memory. How did our nation get into such dire straits?
I believe we have become a nation of factions. Instead of welcoming each other and showing courtesy to everyone we meet, some of us carry a banner of some cause or group that we back. For some of us, it is a political party, and for others a social issue. Whatever it is, we need to come together; when we are split into the many pieces I believe we are, we are vulnerable to attacks on a small scale or on a scale like 9/11. It is because our enemies see or at least sense that we can be had.
I urge you to look at what is occurring in our country and come to the realization that each of us must contribute toward its political and social health with good intentions. I urge our leaders at every level of government to quit the acidic back-and-forth that characterizes our politics. I urge our media not to emphasize drama, but just report the news. We have too many analysts and too many soothsayers trying to dictate what we think about everything. Some might call my thoughts naïve, but one can hope.
I was sitting comfortably at home having a cup of coffee, one week after retiring, and got a call from one of my sons on 9/11. He told me to turn on the television because something was going on. I watched in horror at the events of the day and prayed that I would not see anything close to this in the future. Sadly, that has not happened. Let us remember 9/11!
GEORGE WILKEN
Little Rock
Editorial on 09/11/2019