Pattern of disrespect
During the first presidential debate, I was reminded of President Trump's disrespect for veterans. His words "losers" and "suckers" regarding vets are extremely insulting. Though his demeaning statements are mostly directed at fallen soldiers, prisoners of war, and Vietnam vets, his language is disrespectful to all veterans and active-duty soldiers.
I was drafted into World War II at the age of 18. While I survived the war, I saw death and injury all around me. I was fortunate to make it home, marry, and have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Like most families, I come from a long line of veterans, including my father, father-in-law (in WWI), and three brothers-in-law (in WWII).
The president's hateful remarks do not surprise me. He has a pattern of dishonoring veterans. In 1999 and again in 2015, Trump questioned John McCain's status as a hero. Senator McCain was a POW in the Vietnam War and was a hardworking senator for many years. Trump's disparaging comments about the senator have been repeated after his death and even today.
Trump got out of service due to questionable deferments. Since taking office, he has continued to serve himself, not our nation.
I did not vote for Trump in 2016, and I did not vote for him in 2020. I am proud to support Joe Biden because he shares my values and wants to unite our country.
DAVID H. JAMES JR.
Little Rock
Try different strategy
Governor Hutchinson, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Unfortunately, this quote sums up our current Arkansas covid strategy. Appeals to be responsible are appreciated, but facts clearly indicate this approach is not working. The facts as reported by your Department of Health demand a different approach to control the spread. How many more days of increasing cases, hospitalizations, and deaths before we do something different? How many more health-care professionals and hospital administrators must say they are getting overwhelmed?
A University of Kansas study found that mask mandates help slow the spread of covid-19. Kansas counties that had a mask mandate had a 50 percent reduction in the spread when compared to those without.
It's time to mandate actions that change the "facts of covid" in our state. This is not about politics, but about protecting and improving the "public health" of our families, our communities and our state. Individual rights may sound politically correct, but totally contradict the objectives of public health policy: to protect the health of all. How does being required to wear a mask deprive you of anything compared to your responsibility to save lives in your family and community?
The late Dr. Fay Boozman was asked why producing more doctors wasn't a better way to improve public health than creating a College of Public Health to train more public health professionals. He answered, we could use more doctors to treat snakebites, but we really need to kill more snakes. Public health is about preventing people from getting snakebites--or viruses.
Governor, it is way past time to find a way to treat the covid virus like Dr. Boozman recommended--take the public health approach, using the facts to drive actions for different and better results.
RAY SCOTT
Little Rock
About the other virus
For several days I'd been wanting to put my thoughts on paper about the state of our country. I'd tossed several drafts. The nasty politics, the downright degrading attacks on anyone with a different opinion. The stunningly transparent lies.
But on a recent Wednesday morning, Brenda Looper did it for me. Much thanks to Brenda for that slice of sanity.
If I didn't know better, I would think people had some other disease besides covid that makes them think that everyone else is an idiot. I hear people complain about the media all the time and yet they just can't get enough of it. Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube and news 24/7 on the boob tube. Our brains are being washed, permed and set out to dry.
If you have Netflix, check out "The Social Dilemma." It's an hour-and-a-half piece that examines how the biggest tech companies are using social data. They know everything you watch, text, tweet and browse on the Internet. And it's no joke. It makes you wonder who else knows. It will really make you more protective of your thoughts as well as your choices. It might even be molding your opinions.
Tonight, instead of watching the news, do what I'm going to do. Alexa and I are going to sit on the patio where she will play songs by The Band and Van Morrison while I will sip the beverage of my choice and make sure I don't burn the salmon and asparagus.
I'm positive I'll get a better night's sleep.
But I am going to be careful what I say in front of Alexa!
WADE GREEN
Camden
Established science
Science is "established science" until it isn't. For centuries established science told us Earth was flat when all the while the oldest book in the Bible said God sits on the circle of Earth.
Now established science thinks it has discovered water on the moon. I believe one only has to read the first few verses of Genesis to know how it got there. It will be interesting to see how established science explains it. For their information there may (and probably will) be water found on other planets.
It's in the Book.
LINDA STELL
Fordyce