LETTERS
Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Editorial/225171/
Tragedy greater than one horse’s death
A great deal of interest has been shown in the recent death of Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby this year. While a great tragedy, it is perhaps not as sad as that which occurred one week earlier and 70 miles away in Lexington. There, at the Rolex Three-Day Event, a pre-Olympic competition, two horses out of a field of 42 were injured on the cross-country course and ultimately euthanized. I was a spectator at that event and also watched the Kentucky Derby on television, and feel somehow partly responsible for the deaths of all three of these beautiful animals.
At the races, I marvel at the speed of the horses and urge them on to faster times. At the Three-Day Event, I try and get as close as possible to watch the horses fly over ever larger, more challenging and thereby more dangerous jumps. As a horse owner myself, I know that a great horse will die to please its rider, and never has that been more evident than on these two Saturdays. After watching Eight Belles go down, I have decided that I will never again watch any equine competition where speed and therefore risk of death play an integral role. I do not wish to be a part, in even the slightest way, in the destruction of any more of these wonderful animals.
FREDERICK KING
Mount Vernon
U. S. strength is service
Once more our state and surrounding states experienced destruction from deadly storms. We grieve for the lives lost and pray for all the victims who suffered losses. City, county, state and federal governments come to aid all those in need of tree removal, home repairs and funds for all kinds of needs. It is wonderful that we have these programs available to help soon after storms. It is a great nation. We complain about the taxes, we complain about our government, yet we are grateful for the help when it comes. Since Sept. 11, 2001, this country has faced terrible losses of lives, homes, businesses, buildings and planes. Storms all over this country occurred and left thousands without homes, without clothes, without medicine, without vehicles, without jobs. Our government came immediately to comfort, help, build, give and do for all those hurting in every way. Individuals, groups, churches and companies all responded. Whatever was needed was given. I am proud of this loving and caring land. We live by the Golden Rule. We hear the word “love” without ceasing. This is what makes this country strong, people united to serve one another.
ANITA C. GATZKE
Little Rock
Only two choices viable
I read the letter of Danny Jay Williamson, “All three good choices.” Well put. I do not agree with the No. 3 choice. Barack Obama just isn’t the man to lead this country, and many Democrats will not vote for him if he should win the Democratic race. I haven’t talked to one person who would vote for Obama, and I realize that this isn’t like a national poll, but they state that they will vote for John McCain if Obama wins.
PAT FLOWERS SR.
Cabot
Bush isn’t one to blame
Contrary to popular belief, President Bush did not start the war in Iraq. Based on the advice of his advisers and war generals, he asked for the invasion of Iraq. But it took a vote of Congress to put that plan into effect. Presidents cannot declare war. So all this tommyrot about Bush lying to the American public is exactly that, tommyrot. If anybody lied, it was our United State senators and representatives. They voted to put the president’s plan into effect. As far as I know and am concerned, the president, the senators and the representatives acted and thus voted on the best possible information that was available. Nobody lied to anyone. So all you crybabies who are blaming Bush over this Iraqi fiasco, why not stop your whining and write to your representative and senators and let them know your feelings ? Writing a letter to the newspaper besmirching your leaders just shows that you are a crybaby, a whiner with no crackers or cheese. This writer believes that the people of America are a motivated and moveable people. When writing a congressman, state not only the grievance but also, to the best of your ability, a solution.
WAYNE BROADWAY
Williford
Imagine different world
A recent commentary, “A parallel universe,” by Frida Ghitis discussed what Middle East history could have been if alternatives had occurred. This took me back to a conversation with the late Sen. J. William Fulbright in 1967. He said, “We should have given Jews the Rhineland.” How different the world would be ! Was it feasible in 1945 or 1947 ? Today ?
ROBERT JOHNSTON
Little Rock
Obama’s words twisted
Bradley Gitz used Orwellian doublespeak to spin Barack Obama’s words regarding his vote against confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts. Gitz ignored Obama’s real egalitarian position. Gitzspeak: “Thus, far from being blind, for Obama justice should bend over backward to favor some groups over others and to advance a particular ideological agenda regardless of the merits of specific cases or their relation to applicable statutes.” He also stated, without quoting Obama: “There is no conservative disagreement with the idea that our laws should change with the times, only an insistence that those changes be made democratically rather than by judicial fiat so that the Constitution is not reduced to a Rorschach blot.” In reality, Obama said that his opposition to Roberts’ confirmation was because, in examining Roberts’ record, he found that “in his work in the White House and the solicitor general’s office, he seemed to have consistently sided with those who were dismissive of efforts to eradicate the remnants of racial discrimination in our political process. In these same positions, he seemed dismissive of the concerns that it is harder to make it in this world and in this economy when you are a woman rather than a man.” The Supreme Court is supposed to ensure that the majority do not impose unfair “changes” on minorities, no matter how democratic the process may appear. Obama was correct to vote against a justice who appears to hold a philosophy that might makes right.
TERRY J. DuBOSE
Little Rock
Get thinking down first
All these neo-cons, want-to-be neocons and neo-cons but don’t know it need to rethink their values. Ignorance is curable, but stupidity is not. They will need to find out where they are coming from. It will help in deciding where they are going. So they want to go to war with Iran ? Have they thought about where they are going to get the troops and equipment ? Both of ours are worn out. How about money ? Have they checked with China on a loan ? Check with their kids to see if they are agreeable to paying it back. Check with their grandkids, too. If they are convinced that we ought to go to war with Iran, they might want to put their money where their mouth is. If they have as much money as they do mouth, we won’t have any trouble with funding the war. Why don’t they go ahead and send a couple of thousand for a down payment just for starters ? They will need to budget for the following years also, since they never know how long these things are going to last. Oftentimes the enemy has more say about that than we would like. Why don’t they plan to sign their oldest up with the draft if it’s reinstated ? And maybe their second oldest. They never know how many people they are going to need. They do agree that we will need a draft if we are going to fight three wars and be ready for a fourth. Things will start clearing up after they get the thinking down. If they don’t, reread the first paragraph. Good luck.
WAYMOND TEAGUE
Greenbrier
Art just part of beauty
I received double blessings when I recently attended the annual Birch Tree Communities art show and sale hosted this year by Gov. Mike Beebe and his wife Ginger. It was uplifting to observe the smiling faces of the artists whose paintings dominated the room. Each member was greeted by the governor and the first lady. Most likely, this was a first time-experience for most members, an experience they likely will remember always. The artists suffer from severe depression and schizophrenia. Over 300 paintings created by the rehabilitating minds of the members were professionally framed, priced and displayed with information about the artist. Several artists were present to give the buyers personal insight about how and why the painting was created. The creator receives the money for the sale of the painting. The first blessing was seeing the beauty of the colorful assortment of hanging art, which I could only touch. The second and greater blessing: I could feel the vibrant, friendly and positive personalities connected to the beautiful minds of these who live in a world that’s different, a world impossible to explain.
WILLIAM KRAMER
North Little Rock