Two important books

In the midst of deep political division, historical amnesia, and a growing indifference to the erosion of democratic values, I believe every American should read–or reread–two important books: “All the King’s Men” by Robert Penn Warren and “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson.

Warren’s “All the King’s Men” portrays Willie Stark’s rise to power and the seductive nature of charisma. It reveals how easily noble intentions can rot when accountability dies and ambition rules. Sound familiar?

Larson’s “In the Garden of Beasts” brings history uncomfortably close. Through the eyes of American Ambassador William E. Dodd, to Nazi Germany in the 1930s, we watch a civilized society slide into tyranny, while the world–including the U.S.–looks on in polite disbelief. The warning signs were there. They always are. But people didn’t want to see them until it was too late.

These two books, one fiction and one fact, together serve as a chilling reminder: Democracy and freedom of the press and speech are fragile.

Read these books. Talk about them. Utilize Five Calls: Contact your Congress. We cannot afford to look away or be lulled into complacency.

REE GANDY ROUTON

Little Rock

Greatest disgraces

My opinion follows: The six invertebrates in D.C. from Arkansas will go down in history as one of the greatest disgraces yet from the state. Their oath to support the U.S. Constitution has been set aside while they support Donald Trump’s destructive agenda. I don’t find Christianity in any of that.

Trump has proven to be a pathological liar, autocratic, and a narcissist. Our delegation’s allowing that renders them culpable in the undoing of the greatest government so far known in recorded history. Trumpers, who are in no way Republicans now, have put a lunatic in the Oval Office the second time. Then with the Arkansas votes helping, they approved a whole cabal of liars, incompetent poseurs, and kissers of Trump’s keister to his Cabinet. They’ve virtually destroyed defense, health, national security and numerous agencies we need. It seems the lunatic in charge of health care has already caused deaths and ongoing mayhem for years ahead–backed by the Oval Office.

The DOJ, some on the U.S. Supreme Court, the defense secretary, and the FBI are and have been wreaking revenge on those who rightly did the prosecutions that Trump escaped by a hair’s breadth.

We have a national government of morally corrupt, integrity-bereft, basically dishonest people. That being fact, why would anyone believe a word uttered by Pam Bondi regarding Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump, or anyone else? She obeys Trump, not the law. When DOJ is a lackey to Trump, we no longer have a constitutional DOJ.

Charlie Kirk? No one had a right or justification to murder him! No man or state government has a moral right to take anyone’s life when it can’t be restored to the person. We know of too many we’ve executed who were later found to be innocent. We’ve not reached perfection as a people or a society yet, and until we do, that’s God’s job. He could choose to do it by leaving the accused to rot in prison until natural death–or until our mistake got corrected and the innocent released alive.

KARL HANSEN

Hensley

Co-opting of gospel

In a recent letter to the editor (“A Christian revival”), Mr. Adam Flemming suggested a Christian revival was coming after the memorial service for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. There is no doubt the gospel was preached, not only by the pastor who called for people to receive Christ, but also in Ms. Kirk’s extending forgiveness to her husband’s murderer. The apostle Paul tells us we are to rejoice whenever Christ is preached, regardless of the motives, and in that I do rejoice.

Yet I cannot share Mr. Flemming’s optimism. What we saw in that nearly five-hour service was, in short, a co-opting of the gospel for political purposes. In major programs, keynote speakers and central points come at the end. Thus, it’s no surprise the gospel was preached first, followed by what became a political rally (including words of hate that belong in the mouth of no professing Christian).

This blending of Christianity and Americanism is not new. Despite the First Amendment’s prohibition of “establishment,” the idea that America is a Christian nation has long persisted. Today’s version is simply the continuation of movements like the Moral Majority of the ’70s and ’80s. The world is always eager to co-opt Christianity to serve its ends, and that is what’s happening now.

For Christians, “liberals” are not our enemies, nor are “conservatives.” Many sincere followers of Jesus may be found in both camps, and many in each walk, as Paul says, “as enemies of the cross,” seeking power in Jesus’ name. As my pastor reminded us, whenever we take pride in any identity apart from Jesus, we are sowing division.

The church must return to spiritual power, not political power. Let us preach the gospel and leave the world’s fear behind.

MICHAEL FLOYD

Fayetteville