Will be indoctrinated
When school starts, parents and grandparents beware. It seems your progeny will be indoctrinated with grandiose tales from pseudoscience about Darwin and evolution. They will be told they are just lucky animals; that Darwin was right and God was wrong about origins. Trust science.
Don't be surprised, if you've raised children in a Christian home, when they come home and announce "I'm an atheist. I'm not going to church anymore." Seven out of 10 young people have been walking away from the church and parental teaching within two years after leaving home for college or career. Why? They will say something like this. "Since science has proven the Bible wrong about the creation story, why should I believe any of the rest of it? I'm outta here!" Solution? Take your progeny to the Creation Museum/Ark Encounter in Kentucky if you want to avoid this sad scene.
Also, fathers, if you really want to stop the American holocaust--abortions--teach your sons to keep their pants zipped and, mothers, teach your daughters to keep their knees together until after their wedding ceremony. Teach them that sexual fulfillment is God's wedding present to the bride and groom. Do this, and the need for abortions goes away tomorrow. And marriages are strengthened. It's up to you, Mom and Dad.
BOB WARNER
Hot Springs Village
Walker not qualified
Mr. Edward Chevallier of Horseshoe Bend appears to be woefully uninformed in his letter to the editor. He says that finally we will have an honest election because two Black men are running for the same Senate seat in Georgia. It is truly racial bias when you equate skin color with a candidate's worth.
Mr. Chevallier apparently thinks Herschel Walker is the best candidate for some reason, perhaps because he was an NFL star. Walker has claimed he has a college degree (he doesn't) and was an FBI agent (he wasn't), so he's an outrageous liar. He has fathered three children out of wedlock with whom he has little, if any, contact, although he does apparently pay child support. Walker has said climate change is happening because "our good air decided to float over to China's bad air," indicating that he has no understanding whatsoever of this important issue.
Perhaps Mr. Chevallier thinks that Walker's lying shows he is worthy of the Trump (30,000 lies in four years) endorsement. My take is that anyone who thinks Walker is qualified for this office because he was an NFL star, in spite of all his other flaws, needs psychiatric care.
MALCOLM K. CLEAVELAND
Fayetteville
Corporations and tax
We read and see how many of the largest corporations pay little to no federal income tax. I think it would be an interesting read to see what the largest corporations in Arkansas pay in state income taxes!
SCOTT HEARN
Little Rock
Empathy and freedom
Equitable treatment of women can dramatically impact poverty, education, and health at the micro and macro level. At present, poor legislative, judicial, and executive action disproportionately affects women. During the pandemic, I witnessed the successes of men propped up on the backs of nurses and graves of educators, not inconsequentially, female-dominated professions. Furthermore, women have been driven out of the workforce to care for children, and the five decades-old Supreme Court decision granting women access to safe reproductive health care has been reversed, setting gender equity back generations.
These words could be found offensive to some. Take a moment, however, to unclench the jaw, breathe deeply, and consider a daughter, wife, niece, or another beloved woman navigating the current tragic circumstances of our society.
This is a simple exercise in empathy, the root of humans' ability to help others and change the world. By practicing and teaching empathy, we have the power to transform lives and escape desperate and disparate circumstances; this intentional action functions as a spark to freedom.
Freedom. Defined as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action or from the power of another. Current events might lead one to believe that freedom for women has been extinguished. But I know freedom is also the boldness of a plan or execution thereof. Freedom is red-hot action.
Empathy empowers others to join the firefight. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for those part of other marginalized communities have also been attacked with hostile actions from those in power who lack empathy. Empathy for one another allows us to stand side-by-side as a unified front. A true home for the brave.
Freedom requires representation. Our children need to see women leaders. It's up to all of us to push empathetic women into a seat at the table where decisions are made. Women are needed in the halls of power to speak up; to push back. Women with empathy will breathe fire to not only protect freedom, but blaze a trail to advance it for generations to come.
ASH LEE HICKS
Fayetteville
A test in the making
There is an interesting litmus test for determining if you are talking to a Christian or not. Just ask the person what year it is.
If they say "2022 A.D." then you can be sure that they believe that they are living in a year of the Lord. There is also a high probability that their faith is strong.
If they say "2022 C.E." (C.E. stands for the "Common Era"), then they are telling you that in their minds political correctness trumps their faith. They have no problem dropping Christ, even from the calendar. There is a high probability that they are a CINO (Christian in Name Only.)
Just something worth thinking about.
JOE WHALEN
North Little Rock