Letters

Thanks to all at paper

As I write this, I just finished reading the last publication for 2017 of your great paper, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. I send thank yous and hugs to all the people, top to bottom, that help to get such a great paper in my hands. My TV is unplugged--too much junk on it.

I had the Arkansas Gazette dealership at Southern State College in Magnolia while in high school in the early '50s. The paper taught me and the customers the most.

I really enjoy the letters section and outdoors part. Also, thank your for reprinting the 13-year-old letter from David Mills of Jonesboro. It brought tears to this 80-year-old daddy's eyes. Thanks again!

RAYMOND KIMBELL

Magnolia

Hospital needs money

I purchased a copy of the "2018 Best Hospitals" by U.S. News to see where UAMS ranked. I did not find it in the top 50 hospitals. I then got on the Internet and found it as an unranked hospital. Even more alarming is the latest news. According to a recent newspaper article, UAMS will need to cut $30 million from its current budget and eliminate as many as 600 positions.

Folks, it's where your current doctor probably attended school and chances are the one you have in the future will have attended that school. Do you want those doctors to have the opportunity to learn the skills that may save you or some member of your family's life? Face it, UAMS is where many people go when they are very ill and do not have the money to go anyplace else.

We constantly hear what a poor state Arkansas is. Perhaps it's more than past time that we remember some of the richest people in the world live here or have their headquarters here. Don't tell me what they give. Instead tell me what they could give. Wal-Mart, Tyson, J.B. Hunt, Stephens and many others could say, "We are going to make UAMS one of the top hospitals in the United States. Arkansas people will benefit from having some of the top research people in the United States at UAMS. We can do that for the people who have worked so hard for us." Combined--pennies from their pockets.

It's past time to call your legislators and Governor Hutchinson's office and ask them to fully fund UAMS. In addition ask for money for new research and programs that will make us a healthier state and provide us with some of the best medical care in the country. If they do not do anything to help the situation, write it down and vote for someone who will make sure UAMS is fully funded. Nothing is more important than our health. Get going!

BONNIE BARTON COOK

Fayetteville

Backing is situational

Re the article about Nancy Allen in last Tuesday's paper: Allen says she removes her hijab when drinking a glass of wine while on vacation out of "respect" for this religion. She uses the freedoms provided by our Judeo-Christian dominated country to honor Islam by wearing an hijab while countries dominated by Islam would imprison a woman who would openly drink a glass of wine in or out of their country.

It seems her support is obviously an example of situational ethics/morals. Luckily her library books are full of true acts of courage for her to readily access.

GAYLE BURNS

Jonesboro

Just packaging differs

Rex Nelson's "Blah, blah, blah" column reminded me of the "symbolism over substance" commentary in the Clinton era. I recall the movers and shakers in the chamber's hand-picked crowd of visionaries that somehow always ended up with recommendations that included revitalization of downtown Little Rock. Call it by some fancy name like Think Big, or Fifty for the Future or ???

It's all the same except for the packaging. There must be bigger issues facing this city than empty downtown buildings. It's not a positive sign when the new police building on 12th Street can't find tenants for the first-floor commercial floor space. Jokingly, I remarked that not even a doughnut shop would move in there.

Rex Nelson is spot on. Public safety, and that means a fully staffed police force, is the start of any vision.

Myopic visions that focus on just a few square blocks of Little Rock will never gain the support of the people who will be asked to continue paying for it. This group should try to find answers to why every city surrounding Little Rock is experiencing growth and we are not. Only then can its members claim to be real visionaries and not just another empty package in colorful wrapping paper.

DON SHELLABARGER

Little Rock

Support for museum

Congressman Steve Womack filed a House resolution, H.Res.638, on Nov. 30 with all of the delegation on board. We are very grateful and pleased. This follows the Senate bill that was introduced by Sen. John Boozman and co-sponsored by Sen. Tom Cotton this summer.

Now, to the really hard part--we desperately need your support via publishing our plea for all folks, from all states, to contact their congress-ional representatives, and ask them to support S.Res.186 (may be changed to S.Bill.186) and H.Res.638. Title is: National Aviation Cadet Museum of the United States.

Most people don't realize that we are the boys turned into men by this great program that built the air arm of this nation from 1917 until the end of the 20th century. We had cadets in all services, and most everyone in our nation has at least one in their family line. We need to get this accomplished now, as we are all getting on in years and would like to be alive to see it happen. I am 77 and considered a "kid" compared to the rest of the surviving men.

We all thank you so much for your help in honoring these great men. For more information please go to our website, www.aviationcadet.org.

ERROL D. SEVERE

Eureka Springs

Errol D. Severe is president of the Aviation Cadet Museum Inc.

Editorial on 01/10/2018

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