Dear editor:
I believe creatures are at their best when they're helping each other. True heroes are the ones who go out of their way to aide those of lesser circumstance. The angels are those who strive for peace and harmony in this world.
All creatures are at their worst when they exploit those of lesser circumstance for personal gain. We are all at our lowest when we engage in war.
Hopefully everyone can agree with those previous two paragraphs.
It astounds me when I read letters to the editor where the writers criticize the efforts of those who sought to bring an end to slavery in America. At this moment there are those who read the previous sentence that are raging, "That's not what the Civil War was about!" Read the articles of secession from all of the states who did leave the Union, and you will see that indeed the right to hold slaves was a big part of their reason for leaving.
Without a doubt the lowest point in our nation's history was the war between the states. Americans were fighting each other over the issue of exploitation of other human beings. The only good thing about the Civil War is that it brought an end to slavery being legal in America.
The Civil War ended 150 years ago. And yet there are those who insist on continuing the fight in this newspaper. In fact, two of those writers engage in Civil War re-enactments -- on the Confederate side. All of these people are arguing for, and celebrating, mankind at his worst.
In today's world there is so much turmoil that needs to be resolved, it seems ridiculous to be arguing an issue that was settled more than a century and a half ago. In other words, please quit beating the same old dead horse.
Bud Kenny
Hot Springs
Editorial on 08/11/2017