Founding Father Thomas Paine is finding it hard to get respect in Arkansas.

• Position: People & Politics - Brief article

Founding Father Thomas Paine is finding it hard to get respect in Arkansas. Representative Lindsley Smith wanted to make Jan. 29 "Thomas Paine Day." But her bill was stalled in a Senate Committee where some members believed his 1776 pamphlet "Common Sense" was anti-religion. Senator Randy Laverty, a committee member, said he wanted to read more of Paine's writings since receiving complaints from constituents. Laverty said he didn't want to "sound a death knell" for the bill, but Paine's words "seemed a little inflammatory to me about Christianity...