Speak Out 01/07/03

Stop the politics

FOR THIS new year I hope Congress will do something for this country instead of playing politics. I would like to see prayer return to our schools.

Lots of potholes

DRIVING FROM Scott City, I counted 28 potholes on the northbound side that are bad enough that can throw the front-wheel alignment out of whack or blow a tire.

Exploiting seniors

DOCTOR'S AREN'T the only ones paying and protesting high insurance costs. Senior citizens are paying because of premium increases in Medicare and supplemental health insurance. It's a total annual amount of $3,000. It is exploitation of senior citizens.

Change the name

THE NEW church that is where the grocery store used to be is a perfect application for the big building. I'm delighted to see them there. I do want to suggest that they change their name. I think instead of Cape First the name of the church ought to be Christ First. Good luck.

Action is needed

HOW CAN there be peace when foreigners are bombing American cities and killing Americans and when priests are raping our children? Wishful thinking does not stop this violence. Only action does. These violators have got to be punished in the most severe way. Inaction only serves to encourage more violence as if to condone it.

Funeral traffic

THIS IS directed to the police department. At 2 p.m. on New Year's Eve we were in a funeral procession for a family member. The police didn't show up to direct traffic. It was raining going to Memorial Park and very dangerous. I can't believe a lot of the cars don't stop when a funeral procession is going by. The funeral director tried to direct traffic in the funeral procession, but we sure could have used police help that day.

Effects of gossip

EVERY PLACE has small-town gossip, especially Cape Girardeau. I've had a few people talk about me behind my back. Just about all the women that I know talk about people. Cape is just known for its gossip. People don't realize how much that hurts people. It really damages their self-esteem. Instead of gossiping, maybe the people need to find out what they can do to help.

Post office's service

WHY BE upset with the post office for not giving tape to patrons? It is the responsibility of any person shipping a package to do his own packaging. The post office, UPS and Federal Express are in business to ship and deliver packages, but they are not there to package, supply tape and make copies. Personally, I appreciate the post office and the service it provides.

Enthusiastic principal

I THINK the comments regarding the public school principal sending his kids to private school are completely uncalled for. Since he is a public-school employee, does this mean he shouldn't be able to send his kids to a private college if he wants to? This family has decided to send their children to a private school based on what they think is best for their children and what works best for their family. Be happy that we have a good principal who has a love and enthusiasm for his job.

Need TIF policy

IT'S TIME for the Cape Girardeau City Council to establish the following policy with respect to tax-increment financing, or TIF: Out of fairness to those who do not get tax breaks, the city of Cape Girardeau will not participate in any TIF project. The city council is derelict in allowing the Dalhousie issue to drag on so long. Do your job, councilmen, and do the right thing.

Great movie

I RECENTLY watched "The Wizard of Oz" again. I've probably seen that movie a hundred times. What a classic for kids of all ages. Treat yourself to a trip down that yellow brick road, and I'm sure you'll discover there really is no place like home -- even when you can only have three bags of trash a week.

Kids at heart

SOMETIMES IT'S the little things in life that add spice. Over the holidays, I purchased some animal-shaped paper plates. The youngest person in our family is 20 years old, and the oldest is 80 years old. Both of them and everyone in between really enjoyed eating their treats from the skunk plate, the frog, the pig, the cow and the zebra. I guess we're all kids at heart.

Disturbing noise

TO THE crew laying bricks before 8 a.m. Sunday on the new home being constructed in Rosewood Estates: Weekends are the only days to sleep in. Your noise was truly disturbing.

Prepare for tests

SARAH Lichtennegger makes several excellent points about college entrance exams. But today's students and their parents should be careful not to become so frustrated they don't do the basics in preparation for the tests, which maintain a significant role in college admissions. Contrary to Lichtennegger's guest column, there are many resources which are affordable or free to help prepare for the test. I've been involved with these tests as well as graduate level exams for many years, and it always astounds me how many kids walk in to take the test and they have no idea how the test is even formatted. They've never looked at a sample test. They didn't look at the directions in advance. Research shows that this will cost them 40 to 100 points. In such cases, the kids go home frustrated and angry. But the fault is not the test. It is the lack of counsel by parents and school officials and a lack of initiative on the student's part. Until a better way is found to compare students from different schools, standardized tests will continue to be used. Parents, students and counselors would be wise to recognize that and prepare accordingly.

Protect nonsmokers

EMPLOYERS SHOULD have policies in effect to protect the rights of nonsmokers. Perhaps they should be held accountable for a nonsmoking employee who develops cancer from second-hand smoke. Smoking right outside the door of a workplace should be against the law.