Speak Out 3/2/09

I went to Central High School, and never were there any doors or anything else that were marked "colored" or "white." I hope there will come a day when this kind of thing will not come up. I had dear friends at Central High that were black and white, and I hate seeing my school dissed like that.

Who's listening?

THE largest deficits we've ever experienced have been with two Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. The Republicans can lecture all they want to deaf ears.

Top priority

SOUTHEAST Missouri State University professor Wayne Bowen's broadside against the Obama administration for seemingly reducing the emphasis on international human rights reinforces the ivory-tower image of university professors. The Obama administration has taken a conservative, realistic approach and, as it should, elevated the global economic meltdown to top priority, even if it means an aggressive emphasis on international human rights must be tempered with realism and common sense. It is exactly the right thing to do, even though Bowen and fellow human rights activists will continue their blowhard opposition to Obama's foreign policy. Human rights won't mean much if the world economy tanks. Though it's not an either-or proposition, human beings opt for economic security and having enough to eat rather than having the First Amendment right to scream about peace, love, drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll.

Blowing the horn

REGARDING the motorist who picks up somebody in the 700 block of Ellis Street every morning and who blows the horn. Be considerate of other people who are still sleeping.

Keep cats indoors

SOMEONE said cats are wonderful animals but are not outdoor animals. I agree. They are not outdoor animals because we have domesticated them. They do not know not to cross the street. They do not know not to get into things. The life span for an outdoor cat is much shorter than the life span of an indoor cat. All my cats are kept inside. We don't worry about disease or fights or getting run over, lost or stolen. Please keep your cats indoors.

Great concert

CONGRATULATIONS to the students and director of the eighth-grade winter concert. It was outstanding. The orchestra, jazz band and eighth-grade band gave outstanding performances. Thanks to the directors, Mr. Casey, Mr. Keys and Mr. Lamar. We appreciate your effort with these students and the great job they have done. Thank you.

Paying baby sitters

I'M older and have no children in child care, but I work with a young mother whose baby sitter requires four days of pay whether the children are there or not. When the sitter decides she needs a day off, the mother has to pay her and another person to keep the children. These mothers get no pay when they don't work and can't afford to pay two baby sitters.

Problem for boys too

BULLYING at school in Scott City also goes on with boys. My son deals with this on a regular basis. He's a good student and always has good reports from his teachers. He's been taught not to fight. Yet he deals with harassment from a girl every day. She makes sexual comments and harasses him in front of the entire class. He has spoken to the principal and was told it was going to be taken care of, but nothing has been done. I would just like to know what the school is going to do about this.

Lots of bullying

REGARDING the article on the bullying in Scott City: My grandchild goes there, and students are bullied all the time. School officials need to fix this.

Cats and dogs

JOE Sullivan, I like your column so much. The roles are reversed in my house. My husband has allergies, and I have seven cats. But he has built me a huge back deck, all screened in so they'll be safe. I take my cats, all seven of them, for a walk around the property every day. The neighbor's dogs came into our yard one day. Our big black cat took off after one of the dogs and bit him on his tail. It was so funny to see. I love my cats.

Watch the money

I am absolutely disgusted by the bailout-stimulus. So much of this money has already been wasted. I can't see that it's going to do any good. We need to watch where that money's going because. It's going to come out of our pockets and out of our grandchildren's pockets.

Two-party system

THE two-party system in America works. We're going through tough times right now. We'll come through it OK. Those who want something different would pose a danger to our country and our liberties. The Republican Party may have to reform itself, because it's no longer in step with the American people. But look what happened to the Whig Party. A two-party system is still best for our country.

Telling the story

I read your newspaper daily and have followed the Kezer trial and story. I thank your newspaper for telling the story about a teenager who spent nearly 15 years in prison for a crime that someone else committed. Thank God for people like your newspaper staff, Sheriff Rick Walter, the social worker and attorney Charles Weiss. God bless the boy, and I hope his life turns to be better.

Read to understand

EVERYONE who wants to understand what's going on should read Billy Graham's "Peace With God" revised in 1984. I guarantee you won't want to lay it down until you finish it.

Parents in charge

THE graduation rate at Central High School is 72 percent. The problem is the parents. Until parents are penalized for their children not going to school, the children won't go to school. Children are dictating to parents instead of the parents acting like parents and telling the children what they're going to do. Solve that problem, and you've got your answer.

Let's make it here

I'M wearing shoes, socks, shorts, T-shirt, shirt, overalls, coat and cap. Not one piece of my clothing was made in the United States. If all this was made in our country, think how many people would be working. That's a good thing to look at right now by President Obama and all the rest of our leaders in Washington, Republicans and Democrats. This would put our people back to work.

Music from the heart

THE heart is the seat of emotions. From the grand sweeping passages to the delicate and subtle nuance, great music is born of the heart. One cannot appreciate something unless he experiences it. As a writer writes what he knows, a musician plays what he feels. The divine rapture of an artist's ego that is grandiose can produce magnificent music. It may be that the use of psychedelic drugs diminishes the sound of the peaks. The love of a heart is projected through sound is recognized by all. It takes the time and effort of spiritual self-cultivation to live from the heart. It is one's life, its ups and downs, sorrows, joys, loss and fulfillment that embody the individual's unique and personal sound. Young people must pay their dues before they achieve attainment. Remember, practice makes perfect. These words, if studied and adhered to, may bring forth a well from within with which the artist can draw upon. Try it. May your musical experience be a rich and satisfying one.

All lumped together

MAYOR Jay Knudtson needs to come down to earth with us poor parents and realize it's not always our fault the school system fails. Some but not all the teachers don't care and are too critical of the students. This poverty-level, single parent's child made the A honor roll the first semester. How did some of you two-parent, rich families fare this last semester?

Fighting for rights

SINCE this is Black History Month, I would like to remember an African-American minister who fought for civil rights many years ago. He fought for the rights of the sharecropper. He fought for equal rights for all people. He even met with presidents of the United States. He was a Baptist minister in Cape Girardeau for many years. I would like to remember the Rev. Owen Whitfield, a man who stood for all people.