A history of struggle
In recalling the essence of Martin Luther King's dream, more important than the protests and riots over the murder of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake, is the untimely death from cancer of Chadwick Boseman, a great actor.
He is most known for his role as the Black Panther. He also made biographical movies portraying Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, and James Brown. These films show the struggle for equality in human terms in the 1940s and '50s. For those alive now who were not alive then, they would realize the incredible progress that has been made. They would realize there were millions of large and small acts of courage and kindness that brought us to where we are now. Where we are now is threatened by oversimplification of history.
Whether or not a person agreed with President Obama's policies or his election, in the history of the world it was an absolute miracle. To appreciate that one has to have some understanding of history. Unfortunately there is a movement afoot in this country to obliterate history. A Chadwick Boseman movie marathon might be just the thing for the people in the streets, BLM, etc., to pause for thought about what was then, what is now, what could be, and how to get there.
CHARLES VERMONT
Prescott
Just erase all of that
The culture police need to take a break and refocus on trees. They should start with the fruit trees: apple, peach, and plum. It really is an insult to associate these trees with the fruit they produce, and totally unacceptable calling a tree a plum tree. All trees should just be called trees and whatever fruits they produce should have their own individual status.
Once this is done, they need to move on to cats and dogs, eliminating names that reference countries or cultures like the Siamese, Russian Blue, English shepherd, Irish setter; you get the point. I certainly do not want my heritage being associated with an animal. A cat is a cat and a dog a dog with no legitimate reason existing to call them otherwise. We can just call them a cat or dog 1, 2, or 3 ... breed and select the number that appeals to us the most.
Once all this is accomplished, and everything is erased, there will be no need to keep reminders of our mistakes. No need to teach and learn about how we blundered in naming things so future generations can avoid the same pitfall. My biggest fear is the next generation will produce a brilliant-minded individual who will proclaim a tree be called a plum tree. It will be a pity they never preserved reminders and learned from our mistakes.
MARK BERNTHAL
Bella Vista
Add police to the bill
I agree with the letter from WR Corley of Benton on Aug. 28 concerning adding police to the proposed hate-crime bill. I have voiced my concerns to both Governor Hutchinson and Attorney General Rutledge. As of yet, I have seen no sign of their support for this.
BILLY L. SMITH
Conway
Mail being sabotaged
Although there are compelling arguments as to why today's United States Postal Service should not be required to make a profit or run like a business, nonetheless, the USPS' current problems began in 2006, when Congress enacted the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which required the USPS to fund its retirees' health-care benefits for 50 years! No corporation is required to do that. Many believe that the current USPS crisis is directly attributable to this legislation, which plunged the USPS into debt.
Our current Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, was appointed despite his owning stock options in a USPS competitor and also owning millions of dollars' worth of shares in a company that does work for the USPS. Even more concerning than these conflicts of interest are, as soon as he took over, he fired the top USPS management, began removing mail sorters and mailboxes, and cut back on all overtime. As a consequence, mail has slowed drastically. Food being shipped by the USPS is rotting. Baby chicks arrive dead at their destination. And all before an election where millions more people will send their ballots through the mail, as is their legal right.
Although French Hill sent a letter of concern to the postmaster, he lacked the courage to vote for the bill to give the USPS sufficient funds to assure prompt, dependable delivery of ballots in November. Citizens in District 2 deserve better than Mr. Hill; his opponent, state Sen. Joyce Elliott, understanding that voting is a right, not a privilege, has pushed for expanded mail voting given the recent experience with voters and covid-19, and she has pledged to protect essential services like the USPS. A vote for Joyce Elliott would be a step in the right direction.
DONNA DRURY
North Little Rock
Differences in parties
What a 180-degree difference between the two conventions!
The Democrats celebrate defunding police, and never mention a single word about the riots and violence in our streets. Did anyone ever even mention God?
The Republicans celebrate life, law and order, and inclusion.
I have never heard better speeches than Herschel Walker's and Tim Scott's, both raised in a bigoted South who have known Donald Trump for years and say there is not a racist bone in his body. Dr. Ben Carson says the same.
My wife and I look forward to the election in four years so we can vote for Tim Scott and Nikki Haley for the White House.
EDWARD CHEVALLIER
Horseshoe Bend