Cheers & Jeers

CHEERS: Our city looks awesome when all the flags are flying in front of local businesses on our national holidays. Thanks to each business who participates in this program.—M.M., Texarkana, Texas

JEERS: We have a park in Texarkana named Hobo Jungle. I was told the name derived from its former use as a camping ground for “tramps.” I regard words like hobo or tramp derogatory, outdated, callous names for a homeless person. I like to think we are kinder than that. It is time to rename the park to something kinder and universally welcoming. Names like Peace park, Unity Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park spring to mind. Perhaps schoolchildren could decide. Retaining the current name makes Texarkana seem uncosmopolitan and insensitive.—M.B., Texarkana, Ark.

Cheers and Jeers are published each Saturday on the Opinion Page of the Texarkana Gazette.

Cheers and Jeers must be limited to 100 words or less, and may be edited for length and legal considerations. No personal attacks, business/commercial, or consumer complaint Cheers or Jeers will be printed.

You may submit your Cheers and Jeers to us at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504; by fax at (903) 794-3315; by e-mail at opinion@texarkanagazette.com; or by dropping it off at our office, 101 East Broad St, Texarkana, Ark. Deadline for Saturday publication is noon Wednesday.

Although only initials and the city and state are printed with each entry, we require each Cheer and Jeer to include the writer’s name, address, telephone number and signature. Submissions become the property of the Texarkana Gazette.