Family
Thank you so much for your article on the gay “family” in Arkansas. Just like all gay people, I feel that sometimes people can lose sight of the fact that we are really no different from anyone else.
Sean Metcalf
Little Rock
The worst is over
With apologies to Gabriel Heatter of the WWII radio era, let me say. “Ah, there was good news last night!” Obviously the Hog basketballers have bottomed out, and will be on the upswing from now on! There is just no way that they can ever be any worse than they were against Tennessee.
But, the worst is over! Now we will be on the way up! All we need is two more good big men to play in the paint, and two good point guards to bring the ball down and distribute it, and to finally learn that this is a team game.
Kermit C. Moss
Monticello
Holt’s bill
I was outraged to hear Sen. Jim Holt defend his legislation that would limit healthcare for illegal aliens. He said that pregnant aliens could still have access to prenatal care if a doctor deemed it necessary. This statement makes no sense. All prenatal care is necessary as it is a PREVENTIVE service meant to reduce infant and maternal morbidity and mortality.
His bill is decidedly un-Christian in its tone and Senator Holt should ask himself if Jesus would vote for it. I am certain he would not. Jesus always stood in support of the “least of these,” the poor, the unwanted, the unloved.
Dr. Greg Whorton
Hot Springs
Get wet
Recently Benton County has been rethinking the idea of being dry and has formed a committee to survey the possible ups and downs of going wet. It is with this new debate that I bring up what so many are afraid to speak of openly in Saline County. Should we, the family-oriented, taxed-to-the-max residents of Benton consider this issue as well?
Many people here in Benton think it is time. We could pursue bigger and better restaurants and persuade them that Saline County is ready for them to move here with their jobs and their ability to generate revenue. On any given night in Pulaski and Garland Counties, restaurants such as Applebee’s, Chili’s, Macaroni Grill, Tony Roma’s, Outback and Red Lobster, are packed with people from Saline County spending their money not so much for alcohol, but for their food.
Saline County has the distinction of being located between two of the biggest tourist draws in the state, Hot Springs National Park and Little Rock, and we do little, if anything, to try and pull visitors from out of state, as well as those from surrounding counties, into our area.
I believe the residents of the county, and the city, should have the right to decide this issue in a county-wide vote.
Garry W. Lemons
Benton
Who’s pro-life?
Doug Smith’s article listing proposed cuts in President Bush’s budget revealed that anti-lifers have infiltrated the White House.
Pro-lifers would protect WIC, one of the most efficient government programs, making certain that a pregnant, low-income woman gets the right nutrition until her baby is born and then while she is breast-feeding. And WIC makes sure that the infant gets the right nutrition through early childhood for mental and physical development.
Only the vilest form of anti-lifer would slash programs that serve special education students. Pro-lifers would fight for childcare and after-school programs, making it possible for the child’s family to provide for the child.
Pro-lifers would make sure that every child has a safe, warm home and would not cut heating assistance programs. Pro-lifers would be adamant that low-income pregnant women and children have medical care and would never, never allow the anti-life act of cutting their Medicaid coverage.
Yep! There are vicious, covert anti-lifers in the White House. Or maybe George Bush is just a pompous ‘Pro-Life’ PHONY!
Betsey Wright
Rogers
Puzzled
I’m as puzzled as the Observer is and for a similar reason. After I began my subscription to the Demozette in the fall of 2003, my paper would appear every morning inside my screen door. Sometimes an especially thin paper was even shoved through the mail slot. So I thought my carrier had earned a nice tip.
I waylaid him early one morning right after Christmas 2003 and laid a twenty on him in person. He said, “Thank you.”
Since then, the paper is always thrown somewhere on the porch, more often than not in front of my neighbor’s door. And this last Christmas I wasn’t even supplied with a gimme envelope. Maybe the carrier was disappointed that I hadn’t sprung for a fifty last year.
Anyway, that ain’t gonna happen.
Bill Shepherd
Little Rock
Estate taxes
The Feb. 17 Times said “the estate tax is perhaps the fairest tax in Arkansas, paid only by those who can most afford to pay.” Apparently, the Arkansas Times believes a tax is fair if paid by the comparatively well-to-do, but unfair if paid by the comparatively less affluent.
Perhaps a wealthy homeowner achieves his status because he got up earlier, worked harder and stayed up later. Perhaps his wealth is simply an accident of birth and inheritance. Perhaps the poor person is poor because he simply didn’t expend the effort necessary to excel. On the other hand, perhaps he was born with some debilitating handicap.
Clearly there is no one-size-fits-all answer to fairness and to suggest that it is fair to impose taxation based merely upon the thickness of one’s wallet can be said to reward sloth and punish effort.
Scott M. Strauss
Little Rock
Moment of truth
So now North Korea wants to have its feathers stroked since it too has The Bomb.
Christianity is facing its moment of truth NOW. Prayer with all its encompassments of LOVE is the only answer.
Katherine Erwin
Little Rock

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