GOP mum on vets
Editor, The Commercial:
Veterans Day has passed. Being a veteran of 81 years, I noted the ceremonies done. Of our elected officials in Arkansas, some are active military, some ex-military and a few are officers in the military now. Among them are Rep. Womack, Rep. Crawford, our Lt. Gov. Griffin, and some state legislators.
Others with no military record I can locate are Sen. Boozman, Rep. Westerman, and Rep. Hill and Gov. Hutchinson.
Sen. Tom Cotton, of course, won’t let anyone forget what a hero he is (in his own mind, anyway.)
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
What I did notice and heartily deplore about the whole crew is that NOT ONE of them has spine enough to denounce publicly or privately Donald Trump’s disparaging of the veterans, some of our military heroes, deceased heroes before and after they died.
He repeatedly treated generals shabbily and in the past few days dismissed the secretary of defense because the man refused to politicize the Pentagon for Trump’s pleasure.
That excuse for a “Commander in Chief ” disparaged the son of an immigrant who died in our military service in the presence of his parents in public.
I believe all of the above referenced have a moral duty, if not a legal one, to give us a written and published full explanation of how they justify their continued enthusiastic support for this cretin. Birds of a feather — flock together. If they approve of Trump’s continuation as president — that indicates to me that they share Trump’s disregard for veterans like me who spent some rough time hospitalized from protecting this piece of junk.
You can’t be on both sides of the fence at the same time. Which is it?
KARL HANSEN,
HENSLEY
Prayers for officer
Editor, The Commercial:
I’m saddened to learn of the death of a fellow law enforcement officer from the Helena-West Helena Police Department who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty at the hands of a suspect who was captured by authorities hours later.
This senseless attack on a fellow law enforcement officer comes just 38 days (1 month, 7 days) after we, here in Jefferson County, learned of the death of Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins, who was fatally shot while in the line of duty.
As sheriff and a veteran law enforcement officer, I recognize that within some jurisdictions law enforcement-citizen conflict may be seen as an issue, but it has never risen to the level of disdain for the very men and women who sacrifice so much for the safety and protection of others.
Public safety is our most vital public service and at every arena of public life. A threat on law enforcement is not just a threat on its members but a threat on all human life. This type of violence against members of law enforcement underscores the danger that we as law enforcement officers confront daily. We must unite and call for calm.
Please join the men and women of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office as we offer our condolences and prayers to the family and co-workers of a fellow Helena-West Helena Police Department Hero.
LAFAYETTE WOODS JR.,
JEFFERSON COUNTY
SHERIFF