Respect, admire president

Dear editor:

I note that several recent letters have contained increased attacks on our president. I will admit that I am one of those in a distinct minority. I happen to respect and admire our president, approve of caring for refugees, and changing our attitudes and treatment of those who have suffered under our misguided approach to incarceration.

We, as a nation, have one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world and the largest number of incarcerated prisoners. For years we have treated the issue of drug addiction and use as a criminal matter, which has resulted in very high rates of incarceration. Our approach has not worked and it is encouraging that we are seeing some action taken to attack this problem. There are those who seem to think that the answer to our problems is to just put people in jail. Having worked as a prosecutor for most of my working life, I can state with certainty that putting people in jail, and fining them, making life more difficult, is not the solution.

There are many potential solutions and it would take far more space than permitted in this short letter to discuss them. They do involve making sure that our citizens have adequate housing and food to sustain themselves. There have been several programs involving such activities, and they have worked.

When I read letters such as presented by Mr. Joyner, and those who agree with him, I am left with an extreme sense of sadness. They appear to have a view of life that is selfish and misdirected, stressing animosity towards others. There are good people in America -- unfortunately, based on their comments, Mr. Joyner and his fellow travelers who claim to be Christians do not appear to be among them.

However, during my journey through life, I have been fortunate to have had the friendship of many dedicated Christians and members of other religions providing evidence that it is possible to be religious as well as good, compassionate and caring. We are members of the human species and it is essential that we recognize that we are all one people descended from common ancestors and unless we take care of our world and seek to assure proper care for all, we will soon be extinct. If anything, our path through history has shown that there is no God who is going to take care of us.

There is a poem by Sam Foss. Part of it reads as follows:

"Let me live in my house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by.

They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong.

Wise, foolish, so am I.

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban?

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

and be a friend to man."

Mike Nunn

Hot Springs

Editorial on 11/26/2015

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