Thoughts on opinion

Following are some thoughts triggered by items read on Thursday’s op-ed page:

1. John Brummett, prominent political pundit, permanently perturbed by our “preposterous second-place president” (assuming one ignores the electoral college), created an entire column out of the president’s recent contention that purveyors of “fake news” are enemies of the people. I won’t try to defend Mr. Trump’s frequent ill-chosen expressions, but I wonder if Mr. Brummett thinks that publishing anything other than honest, straight news can be classified as friendly to the people.

2. While I agree with Veronique Odekirk’s point that only people’s actions, not their very existence, are illegal, I would contend that the expression “illegal aliens” is merely shorthand for “aliens in this country illegally,” so doesn’t necessarily denigrate their humanity (particularly if that condition is easily remedied with issuance of a “green card,” making their presence legal).

3. Earl Kennedy laments the paucity of published letters of support for President Donald Trump and speculates that Arkansas Democrat-Gazette letter-selectors are mostly anti-Trump. Regardless of political leanings of those selecting letters to be published, I suspect that received quantities of caustic letters about any person or issue will nearly always exceed the number of those containing favorable comment, for it is simply human nature to quietly accept that which we like, but burst into criticism of that which we don’t.

Finally, I appreciate John McPherson’s letter about the distinction between guilt and shame—and the potential for forgiven guilt through the grace of our Lord.

KEN MILLER Little Rock