LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: GAMING IS CULTURAL WAR BATTLE

To the Editor:

The riverboat casino gambling issue which is still alive in Cape Girardeau is just another battle in the cultural war going on throughout America. This particular battle just happens to be here where we live.

The culture war which is raging through the land is about abortion, gay and lesbian agenda, drugs, gangs in the streets, crime out of control, pornography, TV and movie sex and violence, sexual promiscuity, teen pregnancy, corruption in government, disintegration of families, perverted people trying to redefine life in America and yes, gambling plus much more.

The people who voted against riverboat casino gambling didn't do so because we are short-sighted, narrow-minded, Bible thumping moralists trying to deprive someone of a job or trying to hold back Cape Girardeau's progress. I voted against it because of what it really is.

It is something very damaging to our society and it cannot be separated from any of the other evils of the cultural war. People need to consider this and decide which side of the cultural war you are going to be on. I sincerely hope the people of Cape Girardeau will not be blinded by greed and the glitz of money, jobs and entertainment being promised. Far more is at stake here than what you see and hear. We have to draw the line where it counts. We can't look to our elected representatives on this one. We must take advantage of the privilege we have to do something about this issue personally by our votes.

Many Americans are fed up with the continual encroachment (In Your Face) of groups like Planned Parenthood, Act Up, NOW and the gambling interests. It is time for the rest of us to take a strong stand. What these people plan to take from our area is far greater than the bait they will leave behind. A famed person once said, "All that is necessary for evil men to prevail is for good men to do nothing." That has always been true. We have avoided getting into the ring in the public arena because of the name calling, criticism and intimidation coming from the other side of the cultural war.

I really think the sleeping giant, the people with a conscience and values, is waking up slowly but surely. A ground swell of people are saying, "enough is enough, we are fed up and we are not going to take it anymore!" Yes, a new mood is developing in the land to take back our country, our state, our government, our schools, our cities. This mood is evidenced by an avalanche of letters, phone calls and faxes flooding our elected representatives in government.People like Perot and Rush Limbaugh have come into national and international prominence because of the new mood. We want to take back what is being taken from us and make life for ourselves, our kids and grand kids what God meant for life to be and what our founding fathers meant it to be. That "all men are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness." For the sake of national sanity, for the sake of the future, for the sake of our kids and grand kids, let's start now to get back to where we ought to be. Take a stand Cape Girardeau. Be a bright and shining light along the Mississippi River without the casino boat. Do it with a stronger than ever defeat of Riverboat Casino Gambling on Nov. 2.

RAY EPPS

Cape Girardeau