Speak Out 02/07/02

Long holiday

EVERY YEAR we dread watching our neighbors put up their Christmas lights. Here it is February, and they still have their Christmas decorations up and the lights turned on. It's disgusting.

Money returned

I DON'T know the boy's name, but on New Year's Eve I lost $80 out of my pocket at Wal-Mart. A very nice young man returned it to me.

Step toward protection

If President Bush is now saying that unborn babies are, in fact, babies that need proper nutrition and health care, then I am hopeful that soon he will say that they are humans who need to be protected from abortion and that abortion will be soon illegal. Way to go, Mr. President.

Different adjectives

I am pleased to know that some find George W. Bush "smooth," an adjective one caller used. Personally, I find him abrasive and more than somewhat untrustworthy.

Best of the deal

Donn Miller pointed out in his letter that the United States got the Puritans and Australia received the convicts. Which one of these two countries became the greatest nation on earth, and which one was an also-ran? Thanks for helping to point out that conservative principles are the best. We appreciate it when liberals demonstrate our way is the best.

Spiritual advice

All things happen for reasons. Some things happen that surpass all understanding. The death of a young child cannot be understood by the human mind. It can only be understood by the spiritual mind. Therefore, watch and pray.

Convenient tip

When I asked if I could check out ahead of a gentleman who mistook the convenience-store counter as a gambling casino, I was told by the clerk I could just darn well wait until the patron had finished selecting, scratching off and selecting new gaming cards. I was in a hurry, so I dropped my beverages and snacks on the counter and left, feeling a little guilty for speaking out. On re-evaluation, I've decided next time I'm going to eat my chips and drink my soda at the check-out line counter, since it is meant for purchasing and consuming merchandise. Thanks for the tip.

Indispensable support

To say (as did Jack Stapleton and a Speak Out caller) that to use some tax revenue to build an athletic stadium like a new one for the St. Louis Cardinals would exemplify non-essential state spending shows how some people like Stapleton and the Speak Out caller have their priorities so messed up. One wonders if they are Missourians. Taxpayer support for projects like these should be the sine qua non of state expenses.

Up to their eyes

President Bush and Vice President Cheney are up to their eyes in this deal. Not only that, but they want to run the country the way Enron ran their business. If the American people let them, they will. I truly think that if the pressure gets to strong for Bush, we will see our country in a much larger military situation to draw the attention away from the scandal.

Nothing new

Those who think President Clinton did nothing as far as terrorists are concerned are gravely ill-informed. Nothing new about that, though.

Screen the eyesores

I HAVE a good idea to solve the problem with eyesore property. How about planting fast-growing poplar trees all around the trash property? That way the owners will be the only ones to see it.

Deadly drivers

I WAS driving through town about midnight or 1 a.m., and the man in the car in front of me passed out/ He was intoxicated. The police had to come and arrest him. I can't believe people are so inconsiderate to get out there and drive like that. They could kill innocent people.