Will it make a difference?
Dear editor:
The reelection of Donald Trump for president is still up for grabs, but if the Democrats do not furnish some kind of smoking gun, or the economy does not take a nose-dive, his reelection seems pretty certain. If past history pans out, most folk vote by the way the economy is going, not by moral or ethical issues. True, the economic figures look good, but do they tell the full story?
I found it interesting that Marc Thiessen, a conservative syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, offered the "10 best things Trump has done in 2019" in the 12/28 issue, followed by the "10 worst things" the Potus has done in 2019 in the 12/31 issue.
The 10 best includes (1) job openings outnumbered possible workers, with rising wages among the lowest paid, (did the president do this, or was it his tax cut for corporations and repeal of regulations?), (2) implementing tighter work requirements for SNAP), (3) pressured NATO allies to pay much more, (4) supported the Hong Kong protests, (5) withdrew from the INF treaty, (6) heavier sanctions on IRAN, (7) pressuring Mexico to enforce its immigration laws, (8) taking away funds from Planned Parenthood for on-site abortions, (9) ordering the high-risk mission that killed the Islamic State leader, and (10) appointment of many conservative judges.
The 10 worst things include, (1) claiming the USA is full and needs no immigrants, contrary to employment needs, (2) supporting Israel strongly but later saying that any Jew voting for a Democrat shows disloyalty, (3) agreeing that the Soviets were right in invading Afghanistan and congratulated China on its 70th anniversary of Communism, (4) failed to accept the bipartisan $1.6 billion for the wall, and thus shut down the government, (5) his continued tweets that the USA is fighting endless wars when he is removing troops frequently, (6) displaying rudeness toward dead popular politicians, like McCain and Dingell, (7) asking an investigation of Hunter Biden before restoring promised aid to Ukraine, (8) using the National Emergencies Act to get funds for the wall, showing abuse of power, (9) inviting the Taliban to Camp David, (10) abandoning the Kurds, who had helped so much fighting the Islamic State.
Well, gentle readers, will most voters be aware of these good and bad actions? Will it make any difference? My belief is that the 10 worst stand way and above any actions that any USA president should take. But what will the majority think? The next few months will tell.
John W. "Doc" Crawford
Hot Springs
The power of words
Dear editor:
The Hebrew believed that words were powerful and should not be spoken lightly due to the impacts to people's minds and lives. The Hebrew had 20,000 words and a word could have several meanings depending on the context in which it was used. The Greeks had 200,000 words and could more accurately explain and communicate conversations and Biblical accounts. Jesus is the Greek name for Joshua in Hebrew. The revised edition of the Merriam Webster Dictionary has 470,000 entries. There are 171,476 words currently use most frequently and 47,156 words that are obsolete. We do not use many words in everyday communication and words are lost in the memories of our mind.
Consider the power of words and their impacts. The good or damage from words increases exponentially when spoken by those saying they are called by God and saying things in the name of God. Ministers and priests that impregnate the minds of innocent and naive people with misinformation in the name of God are guilty of a heinous act at the level as if sexually abusing them. We do not need the perpetuation of misinformation in the name of God. Saying such is not a trivial matter like a puppy peeing on the carpet. This influences and impacts minds, lives, and the way people think and act for the rest of their lives. If God supports truth, anything not true is not of God regardless of who says it.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs
Army and Navy Hospital
Dear editor:
Will private interests buy the Old Army and Navy Hospital in Hot Springs? And if so, who will own first rights to the thermal springs? Early on, the military had first rights: See, Tolson, Hillory A., Compiler, Laws Relating to the National Park Service, 1933, p. 221.
And, it's not the first time citizens have had to fight to keep it open. In December 1896, many in Washington wanted to abandon the nine-year-old A/N Hospital. But under Hot Springs leadership, successful action was immediately taken to save it.
Also, veterans from a soldier's home at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with help from Hot Springs leaders succeeded in getting the Government to allow disabled veterans to be admitted.
The present complex, built in 1933, was very timely. Hitler was rising to power in Germany, and the great polio epidemic of that era was crippling the American military and civilian population, including our children. The A/N Hospital in Hot Springs was the major treatment center for military and civilian polio victims.
Both moves to close the Army and Navy Hospital came during the two greatest economic depressions this country ever experienced. The cry then was that we couldn't afford to keep it open. But our leaders wisely felt that we couldn't afford not to keep it open.
Why can't the military make use of it again for military and/or civilians?
Janis Percefull
Garland County
Editorial on 01/05/2020