Thursday thumbs + 2

Yes, our regularly occurring bi-directional collection of thumbs typically appears on Thursdays, primarily because of our fondness for alliteration. But this week’s version was bumped from Thursday so that we, like everyone else, could devote that day to giving thanks. Well, let no one charge us with being stuck in our ways. So, even though today is a Saturday, we’re offering a few thumbs.

In a state that “harvests” thousands of deer annually around this time of year, we’re hardly rankled by the sight of a dead animal. If we were, we could hardly drive down a city street or rural highway, where dead squirrels, coons, skunks and other critters are not in short supply. But all of us should find something troublesome in the photo and short article in Wednesday’s edition detailing researchers’ efforts to understand the death of a whale in Indonesia. Circle of life, right? Maybe, but it should concern everyone that researchers found 13 pounds of plastic waste inside the whale’s stomach, including drinking cups and flip-flops. It couldn’t be determined whether the plastic caused the whale’s death, but it sure couldn’t have helped. The U.S. certainly isn’t waste-free, but a study last year found 90 percent of the plastics in the oceans arrive there from 10 rivers — eight in Asia and two in Africa — that run through densely populated areas. Some researchers say plastics in the oceans could outweigh the fish there by 2050. Our country can always help by developing technology and spreading it around the world and by encouraging cleanup efforts where they will have the most impact.

How difficult must it be to operate in the world of Donald Trump? Just a few days ago, the president waffled on the future of Chief of Staff John Kelly, saying “There are certain things that I don’t like that he does.” Trump took care of this human resources part of his job in an interview with Fox News Sunday, not a typical place for airing personnel matters at the White House, or any other responsible organization. Is this just one more sign that virtually no one can sustain a lasting professional relationship with Trump? That the only person who lives up to Trump’s standards, if that’s what they should be called, is Trump himself? How many people has he burned through in two years of his presidency? And has it ever occurred to him that the common bond among all these failures/losers is their association with him? The president of the United States should be able to create some stability at least within his closest advisers. Trump thrives in chaos, but most other people don’t.

Bill Hollenbeck has delivered great leadership in his eight years as sheriff in Sebastian County, with 28 total years at the sheriff’s office and 36 years in law enforcement. Today, however, we want to offer our thanks to the retiring sheriff for his leadership in the state on behalf of inmates with mental health issues. It’s a practical matter for sheriffs across the state: Jailers and deputies are not the best professionals and jails are not the best systems for addressing the needs of people going through a mental health crisis. Both are about law enforcement and incarceration, not about mental health treatment, yet jail is often where people suffering an acute episode end up. Hollenbeck has been a strong advocate for the crisis stabilization units only recently funded by the state. The first opened in March in Fort Smith, thanks in part to Hollenbeck’s advocacy. The other three in the state will be in Washington, Craighead and Pulaski counties. “The opening of our crisis stabilization unit now gives us the ability to take care of our brothers and sisters who have mental health issues through no fault of their own,” Hollenbeck said when that first unit opened. We appreciate Hollenbeck’s efforts, and those who joined him in advocacy for the state to take a better approach to those facing mental health crises.

If there had been any doubt that the county attorney in Washington County, Brian Lester, was functioning at least as much as a political operative as a legal adviser, what he did after the last Quorum Court meeting left none. In that meeting, there’s was a presentation of quilts to four members of the Quorum Court who served in the military. It was a well-deserved honor, but the presentation was long and drawn out. Everyone stood and applauded when they were first introduced and honored. Then an awkward draping of the quilts on their shoulders for a photo opportunity took awhile. During the taking of the photos, justices of the peace Eva and Sue Madison sat down. Others remained standing. A final round of applause broke out as the photo was made and everyone took their seats. Someone snapped a photo from behind the Madisons of them sitting as the photo session wrapped up. Now, here’s the distasteful part. Lester posted the photo of the sitting Madisons to his personal Facebook account. “Everyone in the room stood to honor these veterans except two people,” he wrote. “Please tell Eva Madison and Sue Madison that you support and respect our veterans and encourage them to do the same.” Lester’s post was inaccurate and misleading. Both stood when the presentation was made and sat as it dragged on for photos. What’s more disrespectful: sitting down sooner than others as some photos of veterans are being taken, or using such a solemn occasion to play “gotcha” against political adversaries? That’s not leadership, nor does it have anything to do with creating good government. Lester should be embarrassed his actions.

Kudos and thanksgiving to nonprofit organizations working hard to meet the needs of many Arkansans. People mistakenly believe government can fix everything. It shouldn’t try. But people who advocate for that approach must also recognize that if government isn’t going to do certain things, someone needs to. And that’s where nonprofit organizations in need of people’s financial support come into play. Sadly, a recent study showed that many Arkansas nonprofits are struggling, stuck more in survival mode than anything else. Yet so many great nonprofits work to feed the hungry, to improve literacy, to deliver health care to the poorest among our state’s residents, to educate with job skills and on and on. Want to keep government small? Then give voluntarily to organizations meeting community needs, and don’t make them seek you out. Reach out to them and give yearround. It also has the side benefit of making you feel pretty darn good. Try it.