SPEAOUT

Pray for the sick

MY HUSBAND is in the hospital. His recovery is very slow. I want to know if everybody that reads Speak Out would just take one minute of silent prayer and say a prayer for all sick people.

Cape's finest

AFTER I got home from church this morning, one of my neighbor's children had walked away from the house, a little 3-year-old, and was lost for a little while. I just want to call and commend the Cape Girardeau Police Department for responding so quickly and effectively to a potentially bad situation. They acted professionally, and they acted very quickly. The child was found. A lot of times the police are criticized, but this is one instance where they showed that they are indeed Cape's finest. They should be commended, and my hat's off to them for doing an outstanding and professional job.

Feeding students

I READ with interest the Sunday story regarding the free or reduced priced breakfast and lunch programs at the four school districts in Cape and Scott Counties. First, it's the parent's responsibility to feed and raise their children or take the choice of not have more children than they can afford. If the parents neglect feeding their children, then they are breaking a criminal and moral law. Taxpayers are not mommies and daddies to all the children that the parents can't care for. The article quoted Sikeston public school's food service director, Dorothy Lawrence, "I laugh when I hear remarks about letting parents pack peanut sandwiches. How many students do you think would come to school with a peanut butter sandwich or anything else? People haven't given much though to it." Ma'am, I took a sack lunch to school of either peanut butter and jelly, bologna or an egg sandwich. My family was poor, but we didn't get handouts. We made do with the little we had. I didn't go hungry because my parents cared about their obligations that they created. With the large percentage of children receiving free or reduced lunches, what responsibility are their parents taking?

Blowing of horns

I LIVE in a residential area here in Cape Girardeau on the lower south side by the river. I was just wondering if there's any kind of city ordinance about these people sitting out here 2 or 3 in the morning, and as early as 5 in the morning, out here blowing the horns and stuff. They won't get out and go to the door. They sit out here and blow their horns. I know Cape, years ago, had a horn blowing ordinance. It wakes you up out of a sound sleep.

Notre Dame coverage

I'D LIKE to commend sports writer Jeff Breer on his coverage of the Notre Dame girls at state. Sometimes when reporting the facts, we lose feelings, and I think he captured them very well. Congratulations, girls, also on your win.

Tournament on TV

I HAVE a comment about the NCAA tournament. I don't see why CBS has to play a game that has eight minutes left or nine minutes left in the second half when there is a game on during that game which they could go to which is tied with about two minutes left. The tied game with two minutes left seems a lot more exciting, and after that game's over, they can always switch back to the game with about eight or nine minutes left. That's all I wanted to say. I think CBS is doing a terrible job with the NCAA tournament.

Get the check ready

I HAVE a complaint. I just came from a grocery store and I'm very irritated. This happens in department stores too. Women will push their carts up and let everything be rung up before they pull that checkbook out, then they don't have a pen, they have to borrow a pen. They they have to stand there and write their check out while the cashier shifts from foot to foot. Then they have to pull out their identification out while other people are lined up behind them. I have my check made out, signed, everything but the amount. You people out there that don't carry a pen in your checkbook and wait until everything is rung up and then write your check while you're holding up other people: Stop it. Get with it.

Annoying calls

TO THE person who called in wanting to know how to stop the annoying sales calls at home. The answer is whenever anyone calls your house, you have the right to ask them who they are and what company they are with. Once you determine it is a sales call, then you can ask them to take your phone number off their calling list.

Stooge for Democrats

I'D LIKE to respond to Bekki Cook's comments in the Missourian. Yes, I'd agree with her that she was played for a stooge, but it certainly was not by the Republican Party. It was her own party, the party of Bob Griffin and his political cronies that made her look like imbecile. I think she should wake up and see what her own party's done to her credibility across the state, because if she thinks she's going to have any credibility to run for the office on her own, I think she's sadly mistaken.

Welfare, food stamps

I CERTAINLY agree with Jack Stapleton in Monday's paper about welfare and food stamps. I'm against giving welfare checks to these young girls for having one baby after another so they can collect a larger check which they use to buy TVs, go to the movies, to eat out etc. Any girl can make a mistake once and may need some assistance for a while, but after that she knows how it happens so she shouldn't make the same mistake again. I firmly believe in people working and supporting themselves. There are ads in the paper every day, so if people want to work, there are plenty jobs available then they can get off welfare and food stamps and then we won't have to help to support them. I've worked hard all my life, and I'm 78 years old. It hasn't hurt me one bit.

Board's excuses

I READ in Monday's paper the response to Amy Randol's letter, and I don't believe the excuses they gave. The person who was charging these personal bills knew he owed the taxpayers the money. We have to have a clean new bunch of people in there. This has gone on too far, and we are lacking stock in all other areas.

Play still profane

I DON'T care if the Jackson High School play did come out in the 1940s. Neither do I care that it was a prize-winning play. So what? My point is that it is not and will never be for high school. You proved my point exactly by showing that your generation has been saturated with sex and profane language, and you see nothing wrong with it.